Potential and Kinetic Energy CK12 Reading Potential Energy Stored Energy: The diver has energy because of her position high above the pool. The type of energy she has is called potential energy. Potential energy is energy that is stored in a person or object. Often, the person or object has potential energy because of its position or shape. Q: What is it about the diver's position that gives her potential energy? A: Because the diver is high above the water, she has the potentialto fall toward Earth because of gravity. This gives her potential energy. Gravitational Potential Energy: Potential energy due to the position of an object above Earth's surface is called gravitational potential energy. Like the diver on the diving board, anything that is raised up above Earth's surface has the potential to fall because of gravity. You can see another example of people with gravitational potential energy in the Figure below. Gravitational potential energy depends on an object's weight and its height above the ground. It can be calculated with the equation: Gravitational potential energy (GPE) = weight x height Potential energy is measured in Newton - meters (N - m), which is the SI unit for energy known as a Joule, J. A Newton . meter is the energy needed to move a weight of 1 Newton over a distance of 1 meter.Format Tools Extensions Help Accessibility Last edit was 2 days ago Normal text Times New.. . 12 + B J U A / G DO . E. 13 - BEE Example: Consider a little girl on a sled. She weighs 140 Newtons, and the top of the hill is 4 meters higher than the bottom of the hill. As she sits at the top of the hill, the child's gravitational potential energy is: GPE = 140 N x 4 m = 560 N - m Your turn: The gymnast on a balance beam weighs 360 Newtons. If the balance beam is 1.2 meters above the ground, what is the gymnast's gravitational potential energy? SHOW WORK! Elastic Potential Energy: Potential energy due to an object's shape is called elastic potential energy. This energy results when an elastic object is stretched or compressed. The farther the object is stretched or compressed, the greater its potential energy. A point will be reached when the object can't be stretched or compressed. Then it will forcefully return to its original shape. Your turn: A girl is giving the elastic band of her slingshot potential energy by stretching it. She's holding a small stone against the stretched band. What happens when she releases the band?Normal text Times New... - BIUA All of the examples of potential energy involve movement or the potential to move. The form of energy that involves movement is called mechanical energy. Other forms of energy also involve potential energy, including chemical energy and nuclear energy. Independent Research What is chemical energy? What is nuclear energy? Kinetic Energy Kinetic Energy: Kinetic energy is the energy of moving matter. Anything that is moving has kinetic energy-from atoms in matter to stars in outer space. Things with kinetic energy can do work. For example, the spinning saw blade in the photo above is doing the work of cutting through a piece of metal. Calculating Kinetic Energy: The amount of kinetic energy in a moving object depends directly on its mass and velocity. An object with greater mass or greater velocity has more kinetic energy. Kinetic energy is measured in joules (J), or N - m, which is the SI unit for energy. One joule is the amount of energy needed to apply a force of 1 Newton over a distance of 1 meter.text Arial 13 + BIUA 5 6 KineticEnergy (KE) = 12 mass (velocity) This equation shows that an increase in velocity increases kinetic energy more than an increase in mass. If mass doubles, kinetic energy doubles as well, but if velocity doubles, kinetic energy increases by a factor of four. That's because velocity is squared in the equation. Your turn: Juan has a mass of 40 kg and is running at a velocity of 1 m/s. How much kinetic energy does he have? SHOW WORK