Exploring Energy: Exploring Potential Energy

Upon viewing the Exploring Energy video series, students will be able to do the following: Define energy as the ability to do work. Cite everyday examples of how energy is used to do work. Understand that kinetic energy is sometimes referred to as the energy of motion. List some examples of kinetic energy in action. Define potential energy as the energy an object has due to its position or shape. Explain why potential energy is sometimes described as stored energy, or energy ready to be used. Provide an example of an object that has potential energy. Define mechanical energy and cite common examples. Describe how thermal energy (also called heat energy) increases and decreases in relation to the movement of particles in an object. Explain how wood, paper, gasoline, and food are examples of chemical energy. List several types of electromagnetic energy, such as light, x-rays, and radio waves. Understand that sound energy is the result of the vibration of particles in a solid, liquid, or gas. Explain that nuclear energy occurs when the nuclei of atoms are fused together or broken apart. Describe how energy conversion involves the change of energy from one form to another. Provide an example of energy conversion.