“INTRODUCTION TO ENERGY” WORKSHEET Name______
Date ______Period ______
Part 1. The two basic types of energy
Directions: Determine the best match between basic types of energy and the description provided. Put the correct letter in the blank.
______1. A skier at the top of the mountain (a) Kinetic Energy
______2. Gasoline in a storage tank (b) Potential Energy
______3. A race-car traveling at its maximum speed
______4. Water flowing from a waterfall before it hits the pond below
______5. A spring in a pinball machine before it is released
______6. A match burning
Part 2. Potential Energy.
Directions: Underline the situation in each pair that has the greater amount of potential energy.
1. A stretched or unstretched spring?
2. A ticking or newly wound-up clock?
3. A new battery in an unlit flashlight or in one which is lit?
4. A roller coaster car at the top of a hill or at the bottom?
5. A match before it is lit or a match while it is burning?
Part 3. Kinetic energy.
Directions: Underline the situation in each pair that has the greater amount of kinetic energy.
1. A pole vaulter before jumping or in mid-air at the top of his jump?
2. A bowling ball when your arm is all the way back or as it hits the pins?
3. A baseball bat just before it is swung or right after it is swung?
4. You before you get out of bed in the morning or you when you go to bed at night?
5. A match before it is lit or a match while it is burning?
Part 5. Forms of Energy Continued
Directions: Match the energy form(s) to the description provided. A few questions may have more than one answer.
______1. Falling rocks from the top of a mountain (a) Mechanical
______2. Release of energy from the Sun (b) Electrical
______3. Energy used to throw a baseball (c) Thermal
______4. Batteries (d) Electromagnetic
______5. The energy that runs a refrigerator (e) Chemical
______6. Nuclear fission reactors (f) Nuclear
______7. Lightning and thunder from a storm (g) Sound
______8. Food before it is eaten
Part 6. Transformation of Energy
Directions: Use the following forms of energy to fill in the table below: mechanical, electrical, thermal, electromagnetic, chemical, nuclear, and sound. The first one has been done for you.
ORIGINAL ENERGY FORM / FINAL ENERGY FORM(S)1. Electric motor / electrical / mechanical
2. A battery that runs a moving toy
3. A solar panel on the roof of a house
4. A nuclear power plant
5. Gasoline powering a car
6. A light bulb
7. Photosynthesis
Calculations (Use your formulas and show ALL of your work)
1. A 4 kg rock is rolling 10 m/s. Find its kinetic energy.
2. A 8 kg cat is running 4 m/s. How much kinetic energy does it have?
3. A 4 kg bird is flying with a velocity of 4 m/s. What is its kinetic energy?
4. Calculate the potential energy of a 5 kg object sitting on a 3 m ledge
5. A rock is at the top of a 20 meter tall hill. The rock has a mass of 10 kg. How much potential energy does it have?
6. CHALLENGE QUESTION: How high up is a 3 kg object that has 300 joules of potential energy?
7. CHALLENGE QUESTION: A rolling ball has 18 joules of kinetic energy and is rolling 3 m/s. Find its mass.