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Year 10
Edexcel
Foundation

Calculating energy changes (KE and dGPE)

I can use the principle of conservation of energy to calculate changes in energy of moving objects.

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New
New
Year 10
Edexcel
Foundation

Calculating energy changes (KE and dGPE)

I can use the principle of conservation of energy to calculate changes in energy of moving objects.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Energy cannot be created or destroyed.
  2. In an ideal situation, no energy is dissipated.
  3. As an object changes height, change in gravitational potential energy = change in kinetic energy.

Common misconception

Energy can be lost or created in physical processes.

Always discuss how energy is dissipated to the surroundings when discussing energy transformations, even when dealing with ‘ideal situations’ in which there is no dissipation.

Keywords

  • Conservation of energy - The principle of conservation of energy states that the total amount of energy at the end of a process is always the same as the total amount of energy at the beginning.

  • Dissipate - Friction or air resistance can cause energy to dissipate into the surroundings as heat.

  • Gravitational potential energy - The energy an object has in its gravitational store is referred to as the object’s gravitational potential energy.

  • Kinetic energy - The energy an object has in its kinetic store is referred to as the object’s kinetic energy.

Videos of a pendulum swing to show dissipation of energy in a dramatic way can be found by searching online using ‘conservation of energy pendulum’ or ‘brainiac energy pendulum’. NB the dangers of this demonstration should be made clear, in particular that pushing is most likely to cause injury.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match each symbol in the equations $$\Delta GPE = mg \Delta h$$ and $$KE = ½mv^2$$ with the quantity it represents.
Correct Answer:$$\Delta GPE$$,change in gravitational potential energy

change in gravitational potential energy

Correct Answer:$$m$$,mass

mass

Correct Answer:$$g$$,gravitational field strength

gravitational field strength

Correct Answer:$$\Delta h$$,change in height

change in height

Correct Answer:$$KE$$,kinetic energy

kinetic energy

Correct Answer:$$v$$,speed

speed

Q2.
Match the following quantities to their units.
Correct Answer:energy,joules (J)

joules (J)

Correct Answer:mass,kilograms (kg)

kilograms (kg)

Correct Answer:speed,metres per second (m/s)

metres per second (m/s)

Correct Answer:gravitational field strength,newtons per kilogram (N/kg)

newtons per kilogram (N/kg)

Correct Answer:height,metres (m)

metres (m)

Q3.
Which of the following statements are correct?
Correct answer: Kinetic energy is directly proportional to an object's mass.
Kinetic energy is directly proportional to an object's speed.
Correct answer: Gravitational potential energy is directly proportional to an object's mass.
Gravitational potential energy is directly proportional to an object’s speed.
Q4.
An eagle with a mass 4.0 kg flies at a speed 15 m/s. Which of the following is the amount of energy in its kinetic store?
30 J
60 J
240 J
Correct answer: 450 J
900 J
Q5.
A book of mass 1.6 kg falls off a shelf onto the floor. The shelf is 2.0 m above the floor. Which of the following is the change in energy in the gravitational store? Use $$g$$ = 10 N/kg.
3.2 J
13.6 J
16 J
20 J
Correct answer: 32 J
Q6.
An apple of mass 200 g falls from a branch that is 150 cm above the ground. Which of the following is the change in energy in the gravitational store? Use $$g$$ = 10 N/kg.
Correct answer: 3 J
30 J
300 J
3000 J
300 000 J

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
The principle of states that the total amount of energy at the end of a process is always the same as the total amount of energy at the beginning.
Correct Answer: conservation of energy, energy conservation
Q2.
A rock on a cliff has 1600 J of energy in the gravitational store. It falls onto the ground below and no energy is dissipated. Which of the following is the correct energy transfer during the fall?
1600 J is transferred from the kinetic to the gravitational store.
Correct answer: 1600 J is transferred from the gravitational to the kinetic store.
Less than 1600 J is transferred from the gravitational to the kinetic store.
More than 1600 J is transferred from the gravitational to the kinetic store.
More than 1600 J is transferred from the kinetic to the gravitational store.
Q3.
A 0.20 kg ball is thrown vertically upwards and reaches a maximum height of 2.1 m. Assuming that no energy is dissipated, the ball’s kinetic energy at the start is J. Use $$g$$ = 10 N/kg.
Correct Answer: 4.2, 4.20, 4.2J, 4.2 J, 4.20J
Q4.
A plate is dropped. If no energy is dissipated during the fall, the final speed of the plate before it hits the ground is 4 m/s. If energy is dissipated, which of the following statements is correct?
Correct answer: The final speed will be less than 4 m/s.
The final speed will still be 4 m/s.
The final speed will be more than 4 m/s.
It is impossible to say whether the final speed will be more or less than 4 m/s.
Q5.
A child sledges down a hill of height 12 m. The total mass of child and sledge is 30 kg. Assuming no energy is dissipated, the kinetic energy at the bottom of the hill is J. Use $$g$$ = 10 N/kg.
Correct Answer: 3600, 3600J, 3600 J, 3600joules, 3600 joules
Q6.
A mountain goat with a mass of 52 kg jumps vertically upwards, leaving the ground at speed 6.0 m/s. The maximum height that the goat can reach is m. Use $$g$$ = 10 N/kg.
Correct Answer: 1.8, 1.80, 1.8m, 1.8 m, 1.80m