HOW TO CALCULATE ENERGY

1. KE = ½ (mv2)
= ½ x mass x (velocity)2
= ½ x kg x (m/s)2
= Joules
HOW TO CALCULATE ENERGY
2. GPE = mass x 9.8 x height
= weight x height
= Newtons x meters
= Joules

** There are other kinds of PE. To

figure them out, you might have to
change the PE to some other kind of
energy first. **
HOW TO CALCULATE ENERGY
3. E = mc2
= mass x (speed of light)2
= kg x (m/s)2
= Joules

** c = 3 x 108
c2 = 9 x 1016
 SAMPLE PROBLEMS
1. A pendulum was lifted 0.3 m high and
the mass of the bob was 0.45 kg. How
much GPE does the bob have?

GPE = mass x 9.8 x height

= 0.45 kg x 9.8 x 0.3 m
= 1.323 Joules
 SAMPLE PROBLEMS
2. How much KE does the same pendulum
have if its velocity is 1.2 m/s?

KE = ½ x mass x velocity2
KE = ½ x 0.45 kg x (1.2 m/s)2
KE = ½ x 0.45 kg x 1.44 m/s
KE = 0.324 Joules
 SAMPLE PROBLEMS
3. What is the potential energy of the
bob according to Einstein’s equation?

E = mass x (speed of light)2

E = 0.45 kg x (3 x 108 m/s)2
E = 0.45 kg x 9 x 1016 m/s
E = 4.05 x 1016 Joules
 ENERGY BACKGROUND
1. Energy is measured in units called:
Joules

A. One Joule is the amount of energy

needed to push with a force of 1
Newton for 1 meter of distance
 ENERGY BACKGROUND
2. Albert Einstein

A. What is Einstein’s famous equation?

E = mc2

B. Write this equation in words:

Energy = mass x (speed of light)2
 ENERGY BACKGROUND
3. What are two important things that
this equation tells us?

A) Energy and matter are different

forms of the same thing.

B) A small amount of mass = a very

large amount of energy