“INTRODUCTION TO ENERGY” WORKSHEET Name______KEY______________________________

Date _______________ Period _______

Part 1. The two basic types of energy
Directions: Determine the best match between basic types of energy and the description provided. Put the correct
letter in the blank.

___b___1. A skier at the top of the mountain (a) Kinetic Energy

___b___2. Gasoline in a storage tank (b) Potential Energy

___a___3. A race-car traveling at its maximum speed

___a__4. Water flowing from a waterfall before it hits the pond below

___b___5. A spring in a pinball machine before it is released

___a___6. A match burning

Part 2. Potential Energy.

Directions: Underline the situation in each pair that has the greater amount of potential energy.

1. A stretched or unstretched spring?

2. A ticking or newly wound-up clock?
3. A new battery in an unlit flashlight or in one which is lit?
4. A roller coaster car at the top of a hill or at the bottom?
5. A match before it is lit or a match while it is burning?

Part 3. Kinetic energy.

Directions: Underline the situation in each pair that has the greater amount of kinetic energy.

1. A pole vaulter before jumping or in mid-air at the top of his jump?

2. A bowling ball when your arm is all the way back or as it hits the pins?
3. A baseball bat just before it is swung or right after it is swung?
4. You before you get out of bed in the morning or you when you go to bed at night?
5. A match before it is lit or a match while it is burning?

Part 5. Forms of Energy Continued

Directions: Match the energy form(s) to the description provided. A few questions may have more than one
answer.

______a_______1. Falling rocks from the top of a mountain (a) Mechanical

______d_______2. Release of energy from the Sun (b) Electrical

______a_______3. Energy used to throw a baseball (c) Thermal

______e_______4. Batteries (d) Electromagnetic

______b_______5. The energy that runs a refrigerator (e) Chemical

______f/c_____6. Nuclear fission reactors (f) Nuclear

______d/g____7. Lightning and thunder from a storm (g) Sound

______e_______8. Food before it is eaten

Part 6. Transformation of Energy
Directions: Use the following forms of energy to fill in the table below: mechanical, electrical, thermal,
electromagnetic, chemical, nuclear, and sound. The first one has been done for you.

ORIGINAL ENERGY FINAL ENERGY FORM(S)

FORM
1. Electric motor electrical mechanical

2. A battery that runs a moving toy chemical electrical/mechanical

3. A solar panel on the roof of a house electromagnetic electrical

4. A nuclear power plant nuclear heat/electrical

5. Gasoline powering a car chemical thermal/mechanical

6. A light bulb electrical electromagnetic/heat

7. Photosynthesis electromagnetic chemical

Calculations (Use your formulas and show ALL of your work)

1. A 4 kg rock is rolling 10 m/s. Find its kinetic energy.

a. 200 J

2. A 8 kg cat is running 4 m/s. How much kinetic energy does it have?

a. 64 J

3. A 4 kg bird is flying with a velocity of 4 m/s. What is its kinetic energy?

a. 32 J

4. Calculate the potential energy of a 5 kg object sitting on a 3 m ledge

a. 147 J

5. A rock is at the top of a 20 meter tall hill. The rock has a mass of 10 kg. How much potential energy does it have?

a. 1960 J

6. CHALLENGE QUESTION: How high up is a 3 kg object that has 300 joules of potential energy?

a. 10.2 m

Formula: Joules ÷ 9.8

kg
7. CHALLENGE QUESTION: A rolling ball has 18 joules of kinetic energy and is rolling 3 m/s. Find its mass.

a. 4 kg

Formula:
Joules_____
(velocity² ÷ 2)