Download Name Block ______ Test Date Energy Study Guide Define energy

Name ____________________________
Block ___________
Test Date _________________________
Energy Study Guide
1. Define energy.
The ability to do work or cause change.
2. What is an object’s kinetic energy determined by?
Mass and speed
3. Give examples of the following forms of energy:
(your flip book may be helpful)
Chemical Energy , inside a battery, stored energy in humans from food,
Electromagnetic Energy- light, microwaves, x-rays
Thermal Energy- heat in an object
Nuclear Energy- energy in the nucleus of an atom
Mechanical Energy – water moving, running,
4. Define potential energy and kinetic energy. What is the relationship between potential energy and
kinetic energy—how do the energies change on a roller coaster.
Potential energy- stored energy
Kinetic energy- energy in motion
All forms of energy are a combination of potential and kinetic.
As potential energy decreases, kinetic energy increases and vice versa. The highest potential energy is
when the roller coaster is at the very top of a hill.
5. What is the Law of Conservation of Energy?
Energy is not created or destroyed, but changes from one form to another
6. Know basic energy transformations that take place:
Hairdryer- electrical energy to thermal and sound energy and mechanical
Light bulb- electrical energy to light and thermal energy
Person jumping- chemical energy to mechanical energy
Waterfall to a dam- mechanical energy (of water) to electrical energy (generator transforms it into
electricity)
7. Whenever an energy transformation takes place, some energy is always converted to which type of
energy?
Thermal energy
8. Most of our country’s electricity is produced from what? What are some environmental consequences
of this?
Fossil fuels, acid rain, carbon dioxide build up, global warming, air pollution
9. What are the three methods of heat transfer? Know the definition and some examples for each
method.
Convection: When heat is transferred by the density of air or water. Ex: warm air and water rises and cool
air and water sinks.
Conduction: When heat is transferred by physical contact. **Heat always travels from the hotter object
to the cooler object. Ex: Your spoon gets hot in your hot chocolate.
Radiation: When heat is transferred by electromagnetic waves. EX: microwaves
10. Justify (explain) each of the methods of heat transfer shown in the picture.
Convection (the hot air is rising)
Conduction (the metal is getting hot from touching the flames)
Radiation (light and heat is given off)
11. Define insulator and conductor. What are examples for each of them?
Conductor- a material that transfers energy as heat VERY WELL- Ex. Metal, tile,
Insulator- material that is not a good conductor Ex. Wood, fabric (carpet), foam, insulation
12. What causes sound energy? What do sound waves need to be able to transfer energy?
Vibrations, matter
13. How do sound waves interact with matter?
They travel through the molecules in matter
14. What causes an echo?
Sound waves reflect off of hard flat surfaces
15. What do sound waves travel fastest in? slowest?
Solids- fastest slowest-gases
The hotter the temperature, the faster it travels.
16. What can light travel through?
Matter and empty space
17. What determines the color we see? Why does a blue shirt look blue?
The color of light wave that is reflected is what we see. Blue is reflected in a blue shirt.
18. What color is an object that reflects every color? What color is an object that absorbs every color?
White reflects every color. Black absorbs every color.
19. What does light travel fastest in? slowest?
Empty space, solids
20. Which is faster the speed of light or the speed of sound?
The speed of light