2.3. Key Concepts http://www.ck12.org
2.3 Key Concepts
- Any object in motion has kinetic energy. Kinetic energy increases as the square of the velocity, so faster
objects have much more kinetic energy than slower ones. - The energy associated with gravity is called gravitational potential energy. Near the surface of the earth, an
object’s gravitational potential energy increases linearly with its height. - Molecules store chemical potential energy in the bonds between electrons; when these bonds are broken the
released energy can be transferred into kinetic and/or potential energy. 1KCal (1 food Calorie) is equal to
4180 Joules of stored chemical potential energy. - Energy can be transformed from one kind into another and exchanged between systems; if there appears to be
less total energy in a system at the end of a process then at the beginning, the “lost” energy has been transferred
to another system, often by heat or sound waves.