L3 - Potential Energy and GPE

Unit 5: Energy
L3: Potential Energy

and GPE
LI: To understand what is potential energy and how to calculate
Gravitational Potential Energy (GPE)
SC: I can:
● describe potential energy.

● Explain different types of potential energy.
● Calculate GPE using formula.
Warm Up!
1. Do you still remember what is energy? Write down your own definition
for energy.
2. What is the law of conservation of energy?
3. What is the difference between potential and kinetic energy?

Potential Energy
● Potential energy is the energy associated
with the position of an object.
● Potential energy can be a result of

stretching or squashing an object, lifting
an object above the ground, or keeping
unlike charges apart.
Potential Energy
Gravitational potential Energy (GPE)
● The amount of gravitational potential energy (GPE) an
object on Earth has depends on its: Mass, Height above
the ground and gravitational field strength.
Note:
Formula to Calculate GPE:
GPE (joules) = mass (kg) x change in height (m) (how high off the ground) x
gravitational field strength (N/kg) (always 9.8N/Kg or 10N/Kg)
● The heavier the object and the further it is from Earth,

the more gravitational potential energy it has.
Example to calculate GPE(Solve in your books)
Example: Calculate change in GPE, when a 1000kg aeroplane, takes off up to a height of 500m. Use
Calculator.
Solution:
Mass = 1000 Kg
Change in height = 500 m

Change in
height = 500 m
Gravitational field strength = 10 N/Kg
Therefore;
GPE = mass x change in height x gravitational field strength

Original height = 0 m
GPE =1000 kg x 500 m x 10N/kg
GPE = 4,900,000J
Elastic potential Energy
● When the shape of an object is changed, it gains or
loses elastic potential energy. Example: Slingshot.
● When the rubber band is pulled back, it gains

elastic potential energy.
● The more the band is stretched, the more elastic

potential energy it gains. While the rubber band is
held stretched, it maintains its elastic potential
energy that has the potential to make something
happen as soon as it is released.
Chemical potential Energy
● An object is said to have chemical potential energy
when the chemicals inside it have the potential to
react and make something happen.
● One eg, is the chemical energy in food and drinks.

When eaten or drunk, food and drink release their
stored chemical energy to our body so that we have
energy to do things.
● Another example is a battery. When the two terminals

of a battery are connected, a chemical reaction takes
place that results in the flow of electricity.
Electrical potential Energy
● All substances are made up of positive and
negative charges.
● As the charges come together, they release

their electrical potential energy into other
forms of energy.
● If this takes place in an electrical circuit, the

stored electrical potential energy is
released to the connecting wires and
components of the circuit, such as a light
globe.
Magnetic potential Energy.
● Magnetic fields provide another form of
potential energy, called magnetic potential
energy. It is easy to understand magnetic
potential by playing around with some magnets.
● If you hold two magnets so that they are

attracted to each other you will feel the pull of
the magnets attempting to reach each other.
● If released the magnetic potential energy will

cause them to accelerate together.
Nuclear potential Energy
● The energy stored in the nucleus of atoms is called
nuclear potential energy, because if the nuclei can be
made to split or combine, a huge amount of energy
has the potential to be released.
● There are four types of nuclear reactions that can take

place: fission, fusion, nuclear decay and transmutation.
Note: Read
1) Fission involves splitting a heavy nucleus into two or more smaller nuclei, releasing a huge amount of energy in the process.
2) Fusion involves two or more lighter nuclei coming together to make one heavier nucleus.
3) Nuclear decay involves an unstable isotope of a particular element spontaneously transforming into a new element.
4) Transmutation refers to when an element is bombarded with high energy neutrons in an attempt to convert it to another
element.
Independent Tasks
Beginning - Worksheet Question 1 to 4
Consolidating - Worksheet Question 5 to 8
Extending - Worksheet Question 9 to 11

Reflection
● What is potential energy.
● List five types of potential energy.
● What is a formula to calculate gravitational potential energy (GPE).

L3 - Potential Energy and GPE

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

L3 - Potential Energy and GPE

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

L3 - Potential Energy and GPE

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Unit 5: Energy

L3: Potential Energy

● describe potential energy.

2. What is the law of conservation of energy?

3. What is the difference between potential and kinetic energy?

● Potential energy can be a result of

Formula to Calculate GPE:

● The heavier the object and the further it is from Earth,

Change in height = 500 m

GPE = mass x change in height x gravitational field strength

GPE =1000 kg x 500 m x 10N/kg

● When the rubber band is pulled back, it gains

● The more the band is stretched, the more elastic

● One eg, is the chemical energy in food and drinks.

● Another example is a battery. When the two terminals

● As the charges come together, they release

● If this takes place in an electrical circuit, the

● If you hold two magnets so that they are

● If released the magnetic potential energy will

● There are four types of nuclear reactions that can take

Consolidating - Worksheet Question 5 to 8

Extending - Worksheet Question 9 to 11

● List five types of potential energy.

● What is a formula to calculate gravitational potential energy (GPE).

You might also like

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.