Name _________________________ Class ______ Date _________
TEKS 6.8A Compare and contrast potential and kinetic energy.
TEKS
Grade 6
Lesson 6.8A
TEKS Lesson 6.8A: Kinetic and
Potential Energy
What are kinetic and potential energy?
Energy is the ability to do work or cause change. Moving objects have one type of
energy. A rock on the edge of a cliff or a stretched rubber band has another kind of
energy. These two basic types of energy are called kinetic energy and potential energy.
Whether energy is kinetic or potential depends on the motion, position, and shape of the
object.
Kinetic Energy A moving object can do work when it strikes another object and moves
it. For example, a swinging hammer does work on a nail as it drives the nail into a piece
of wood. The hammer has energy because it can do work. The energy an object has due
to its motion is called kinetic energy. The kinetic energy of an object depends on both its
speed and its mass. The faster an object moves, the more kinetic energy it has. Kinetic
energy also increases as mass increases.
Potential Energy An object does not have to be moving to have energy. Some objects
have energy as a result of their shape or position. When you lift a book up to your desk
from the floor or compress a spring by winding a toy, you transfer energy to it. The
energy you transfer is stored, or held in readiness. It might be used later if the book falls
or the spring unwinds. Energy that results from the position or shape of an object is called
potential energy. This type of energy has the potential to do work.
1. Define What is kinetic energy? What is potential energy?
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Types of Potential Energy Two common types of potential energy are gravitational and
height and mass. The gravitational potential energy of an object is equal to the work done
to lift it to that height.
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Name _________________________ Class ______ Date _________
TEKS
Grade 6
Lesson 6.8A
Elastic potential energy is the energy associated with objects that can be
compressed or stretched. For example, when a person presses down on a
trampoline, the trampoline changes shape. The trampoline now has
potential energy. When the person pushes off the trampoline, the stored
energy sends the person upward.
How are potential and kinetic energy related?
Potential and kinetic energy are related through energy transformations. The
transformation between potential and kinetic energy is one of the most common energy
transformations. For example, when you stretch a rubber band, you give it elastic
potential energy. If you let it go, the rubber band flies across the room. When the rubber
band is moving, it has kinetic energy. The potential energy of the stretched rubber band
was transformed into the kinetic energy of the moving rubber band.
Transformations between kinetic and potential energy can also
occur in any
potential energy is greatest at point A. As it falls, its kinetic
energy increases, because its speed increases. At the same time,
its potential energy decreases as its height decreases. Its potential
energy is transformed into kinetic energy. The total amount of
energy does not change.
2. Infer How can potential energy be transformed
into kinetic energy?
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Name _________________________ Class ______ Date _________
TEKS
Grade 6
Lesson 6.8A
Lesson Check
1. Identify Give one example of kinetic energy and one example of potential energy.
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2. Compare Compare potential and kinetic energy.
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3. Contrast Contrast potential and kinetic energy.
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4. Analyze A bike rider stopped at the top of a hill has potential energy, but no kinetic
energy. What will happen to the kinetic energy and the potential energy as the rider
rides down the hill?
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Name _________________________ Class ______ Date _________
TEKS
Grade 6
Lesson 6.8A
5. Analyze In the example above, when did the energy
transformation begin?
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