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.

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.

Common misconception