Energy (GCSE Physics)

Many know what it means for something to have lots of energy. Consider which has the most energy between:
A Bugatti Chiron at top speed or A Fiat Punto at top speed
A cup of cold water or A cup of boiling water
One way to describe energy is in terms of different types of energy store

Energy stores

Kinetic energy

If an object is moving at some speed, it has some kinetic energy. The amount of kinetic energy an object has depends on two things: the object's mass (m), and the objects velocity (v). There is an equation that is used to calculate the amount of kinetic energy an object has in Joules (J).
$E_k=\frac{1}{2}m{v}^2$
Where E_k is Kinetic energy in Joules (J)
m is mass in kilograms (kg)
v is velocity in metres per second (m/s)

Quick Questions

1. What is the equation used to calculate kinetic energy? (It links kinetic energy, mass, and velocity)
2. Which energy store describes the energy stored in food, fuel, and batteries?

Answers

	Answer
1	$E_k=\frac{1}{2}m{v}^2$
2	Chemical

Longer Questions

1. Describe the energy transfers that occur in the action of boiling a kettle, lifting the kettle to pour, then placing the kettle back down.

Answers

Answer

1

Chemical energy is transferred to the house via electric current That energy is transferred to thermal energy in the heating element The thermal energy of the heating element is transferred to the thermal energy of the water When the kettle is lifted, work is done to increase the kettle's gravitational potential energy When pouring, the gravitational potential energy of the water is transferred to kinetic energy When the kettle is placed back down, its gravitational potential energy decreases

Methods of energy transfer

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Conservation of energy

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Specific heat capacity

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Thermal insulation

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