Gravitational Potential Energy

Energy and its Conservation2011-2012

Recall that kinetic energy is the energy that an object has due to its motion.

It can be related to the work done using the formula:

Kinetic Energy

One can use the work-kinetic energy theorem to calculate the initial kinetic energy, final kinetic energy, and the work done in order to change the amount of kinetic energy.

Kinetic Energy

Definition – The energy that is stored due to an object’s location.

It is stored energy because it has the potential to do work.

Potential Energy

Gravitational Potential Energy

The energy that an object has due to its elevated position.

hmgPE • Note that the path an object takes

to travel from one height to another does NOT matter. Only the initial and final heights are important.

Elastic Potential Energy

The energy stored in a pulled string (rubber balls, rubber bands, slingshots, trampolines, etc.).

Rest Energy Albert Einstein identified that objects have

yet another form of potential energy – rest energy.

Mass, by its very nature, is energy.