Kinetic Energy
Active Physics
Name: ______________________________Grade:___ Class Period: ___ Date:____________
Essential Question: How do I calculate Kinetic Energy from Gravitational Potential Energy?
Instructions: Study pp. 226-230 and answer the following questions.
Study the “PHYSICS TALK” on the left and
Answer the questions.
1. What is the equation/formula for GPE or
gravitational potential energy? Remember that
mgh is also known as weight or Fg
2. What is the equation/formula for KE or
kinetic energy?
3. What is the sum of the GPE and KE at each
point of the roller coaster?
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4. What does it mean by GPE+KE= constant?
Think!
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5. How can you know the KE when you know the
GPE? Think!
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6. List the points in the roller coaster track
where the GPE is the highest.
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7. List the points in the roller coaster track
where the KE is the highest.
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Physics to Go
Study the figure and answer the questions.
8. Figure 1: For which track is the speed the
greatest at the bottom? Think!
( assume no friction)
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Figure 1
9. Figure 2: For which position is the speed
the greatest at the bottom? Think!
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Figure 2
10. Complete the chart below.
Mass of car = 200 kg and g = 10 m/s2 ( approximate)
Position of car
(height) (m)
Top ( 30 m)
KE (J)=1/2mv2
GPE=mgh
60,000
GPE+KE ( J)
0
Bottom ( 0 m)
Halfway down ( 15 m)
Three quarters way
down ( 7.5 m)
11. What do you think? Two roller coaster slides are shown below. Which will give the biggest
thrill? Why? Think!
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Open you textbook to page 230 and copy and complete activity number 11 on an R2.