Energy calculations

A rhinoceros has a mass of 2000 kg.

A bison has a mass of 1000 kg. Which has the most
kinetic energy:
1. the rhinoceros travelling at 7 m/s or 49,000 J
2. the bison travelling at 10 m/s 50,000 J
 Learning outcomes
• Apply the principle of conservation of energy to
simple examples
• Recall and use the expressions kinetic energy = ½mv 2
and change in gravitational potential energy = mgΔh
• Apply the principle of conservation of energy to
examples involving multiple stages
• Explain that in any event or process the energy tends
to become more spread out among the objects and
surroundings (dissipated)
 Summary questions
• Name the different forms of energy
• What is the equation for KE?
• What is the equation for GPE?
• What is the conservation of energy?
• What does wasted energy mean?
• What is the usual form of wasted energy?
 Wasted energy
Very few energy transformations are 100% efficient.
There is usually some unwanted energy that we call
wasted energy.

This wasted energy is usually heat. This heat is

dissipated into the surroundings.

The heat is often caused by resistive forces such as

friction.
 How efficient are you?
If you were 100% efficient, you would not get hot.
 Energy is always conserved
Example:

Show that an iphone of mass 400g dropped

from a height of 3.2m will hit the ground at 8
m/s.

Answer the questions on p10 of your booklet.

Answers
1) GPE = 2250 J = KE = 0.5mv2 = so v2 = 180 so v = 13.4 m/s
2) GPE will be 23.4 J so EPE will be 23.4 J.
3) Same as above = 23.4 J but some energy might be wasted as heat
4) GPE = 150,000J = KE = 0.5mv2 = so v2 = 500 so v = 22.4 m/s
5) Energy wasted as heat due to friction and air resistance.
6) GPE = 4000J. KE = 0.7 x 4000 = 2800J. so v2 = 140 so v = 11.8 m/s
7) KE = 0.9 x 2000 = 1800 J so v2 = 720 and v = 26.8 m/s
8) KE = 0.64 x 1000 = 640 J so v2 = 640 and v = 25.3 m/s
9) The mass of an object will affect its GPE and its KE but…
GPE = mgh = KE = ½ mv2 , so mgh = ½ mv2. The mass cancels
out so mass does not affect final speed.
 Energy calculations
Exam questions on p11-12 in the work booklet.

Extension: Read through p 54-55 and answer

questions on p55.
 Plenary
Write a set of questions that have these
keywords as answers:

1. kinetic energy
2. gravitational potential energy
3. conservation of energy
4. efficiency
5. joules
 Homework
Practice questions 1 – 6 on page 67.