Year 8 Energy Notes

SIMPLIFIED YEAR 8 SCIENCE 0893 (PHYSICS) NOTES 2023 EDITION 1
(Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint Science)

TOPIC 7: ENERGY AND SOUND
PART 1: ENERGY
Introduction: You need energy;
 You need energy from food (chemical energy) to ride your bike.
 Energy from fuels is needed for transport and to produce electricity. (Tr. Joshua S)
The idea of energy is very useful to help explain what can happen, but it does not explain
why things happen. For example, fuel allows a car to move, but that doesn’t tell you where
it is going to go. But energy tells you that if you don’t put fuel in the car then it cannot move
Things have energy if they can be used to do work. A compressed spring has energy; so
does a tank full of petrol. A moving object has energy as well.
Question: What is energy?
 Energy is the stored ability/ capacity of an object to do work. Like work done, energy is
measured in Joules (J).
Teachers tip: Although people talk about energy being stored or given out, energy isn’t a
‘thing’. If, say, a compressed spring stores 100 joules of energy, this is just a measurement
of how much work can be done by the spring.
ENERGY STORES
 Energy can take (exist in) different forms. To understand these forms you need to know the
following;
1. Moving objects have energy. For example, a moving ball can do work by knocking
something over.
2. Materials are made up of atoms (or group of atoms). These atoms are constantly in motion.
For example in a solid such as iron, the atoms are vibrating. If the solid is heated and its
temperature rises, the atoms move faster, so a material has more energy when hot than
when cold.
 Energy may be stored as;
1. Kinetic energy 4. Elastic potential 6. Electrostatic energy
2. Gravitational energy (strain 7. Internal (thermal)
potential energy energy) energy
3. Chemical energy 5. Nuclear energy
The above can be understood as the different forms of existence of energy and are described
below
1. Kinetic energy: It is the energy due to the movement of an object. A moving object has
speed, this speed gives the kinetic energy.
SIMPLIFIED YEAR 8 SCIENCE 0893 (PHYSICS) NOTES 2023 EDITION BY SAKAJJA JOSHUA SOKUTON
ENERGY EXPLAINED [DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS NU – VISION HIGH SCHOOL]

2. Gravitational potential energy: Energy gained as a result of an object moving upwards
in a gravitational field. It depends on the position of an object from a reference point.
3. Chemical energy: Energy associated with the arrangement of atoms in molecule
4. Elastic (strain) energy: Energy possessed by a stretched elastic material / deformed
material. Deformation means change of shape.
5. Nuclear energy: Energy produced as a result of nuclear structure of atoms in nuclear
reactions. E.g. in a nuclear reactor.
6. Electrostatic (electrical potential) energy: Energy gained as a result of a charge
moving against the force provided by an electric field. (Energy transferred by an electric
current)
7. Thermal (heat) energy: Energy gained as a result of an increase in temperature
8. Internal energy: Is the sum of the random distribution of the kinetic and potential
energies of the molecules in a system.
Other forms of energy
9. Sound energy: Energy transmitted as a result of organized movement (vibration) of
atoms / molecules in a sound wave.
10. Radiation energy e.g. light, infrared, radio waves etc.: Transmitted energy as a result
of electromagnetic waves. In this case, no movement of atoms/molecules is needed.
KINETIC ENERGY (k.e)
 Kinetic energy is the energy possessed by an object when it is moving (motion).

 For an object of mass m travelling with velocity 𝑣, its kinetic energy is given by the
equation;
1
Kinetic energy = (mass x velocity 2 )
2
1
𝐾. 𝑒 = 𝑚𝑣 2
2
Where; 𝐸𝐾 − is the kinetic energy in joules (J),
𝑚 − is the mass in kg and
𝑣 − is the velocity of the object in m/s.
 From the above equation, it therefore follows that, kinetic energy is directly proportional to
the square of the objects velocity. i.e.
𝐾. 𝑒 ∝ 𝑣 2 (When 𝑚 is constant)
 This means that any moving object has kinetic energy and the faster it moves, the more
kinetic energy it has.

POTENTIAL ENERGY (𝑷. 𝑬)
Question: What is potential energy?
 Potential energy is the energy possessed by an object by virtue of its position. If the object
is in a gravitational field the energy is called gravitational potential energy (g.p.e).
Consider a ball at height h from the ground and is left to fall.
 The gravitational potential energy of the ball is equal to the work

which would be done if the ball were to fall to the ground. Assuming
no air resistance, it is also equal to the work done in lifting the ball a
distance h up from the ground.
AN EXPRESSION FOR POTENTIAL ENERGY
Question: Show that the potential energy is given by 𝑃. 𝑒 = 𝑚𝑔ℎ
 Downward force on the ball = weight = mg

 Upward force 𝐹 needed to lift the ball = mg
 Work done in lifting the ball = upward force x distance moved
𝑊 = 𝐹 x 𝑑 = 𝐹 x ℎ (since 𝑑 = ℎ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐹 = 𝑊 = 𝑚𝑔)
𝑊 = 𝑚𝑔ℎ = 𝑃. 𝑒
𝑝. 𝑒 = 𝑚𝑔ℎ or 𝑔. 𝑝. 𝑒 = 𝑚𝑔ℎ
In words; Gravitational potential energy = mass (m) x acceleration of free fall (g) x height (h)
WORKED EXAMPLE
1. If a 2kg mass is 3m above the ground, and g = 10N/kg, what is the gravitational potential
energy of the mass.
Answer
{Given 𝑚 = 2kg, 𝑔 = 10N/kg , ℎ = 3m, g. p. e =? J}
Gravitational potential energy = mass (m) x gravitational field strength (g) x height (h)
g. p. e = 𝑚𝑔ℎ
g.p.e = 2kg x 3m x 10N/kg = 60J
g. p. e = 60J

SCALAR ENERGY
 Energy is a scalar quantity (it has magnitude and size) but no

direction. So you do not have to allow for direction when doing
energy calculations.
 Consider the diagram on the right.
 Objects A and B have the same mass and are at the same height
above the ground. B was lifted vertically but A was moved up a
smooth slope. Although A had to be moved further, less force was
needed to move it, and the work done was the same as for B. As a
result, both objects have the same potential energy. The P.E (mgh) depends on the vertical
gain in height h and not on the particular path taken to gain that height.
ENERGY STORES AND TRANSFERS
Energy type Description Energy store or energy

transfer
 Kinetic energy Energy stored due to  store
movement of an object
 Chemical energy Energy stored in food,  store
batteries, chemical fuels
such as wood, oil and coal
 Thermal (heat) energy Heat energy stored in hot  store and transfer
objects and transferred to
colder objects
 Elastic potential energy Energy stored when things  store
(e.p.e) are stretched to change their
shape.
 Gravitational potential Energy stored when an  store
energy (g.p.e) object is lifted away from a
source of gravity
 Electrical energy The flow of current in a  transfer
circuit transfers electrical
energy
 Sound energy Energy transferred from  transfer
vibrating objects
 Light energy Visible energy from luminous  transfer
objects (objects that give out
their own light) that you can
see.

Energy description using a single picture
 A bus moving uphill.
STORING ENERGY
Energy can be stored more easily in some ways than in others. For example,
1. You can keep uncooked rice for a long time, That is a store of chemical energy.
2. Coal and crude oil are stores of chemical energy that formed millions of years ago. This
shows that some energy stores can last for a very long time.
3. A battery is another example of how chemical energy can be stored. It is quite easy to store
chemical energy.
4. Gravitational potential energy (g.p.e) is also easy to store. The picture shows a tank
containing water. A pump has been used to lift up the water. The water in the tank stores
gravitational potential energy. Illustration
a. Rice stores chemical energy b. A water tank stores gravitational potential energy
 Some energy stores only last for a short time.

Examples of energy stores that only lasts for a short time (are lost easily)
1. Thermal (heat) energy. Hot objects will eventually cool down (they will lose their store of
thermal energy)
2. Kinetic energy. Kinetic energy is more difficult to store than chemical and gravitational
potential energy.
 A tennis ball in motion has a store of kinetic energy but at one point the ball will eventually
stop moving thus its kinetic energy will be lost.
Illustration
A tennis ball has a store of kinetic energy while it is moving.
PROGRESS CHECK QUESTIONS

1. Look at the picture of the circuit. Copy and complete these sentences. Choose from the
stores and energy transfers you have earnt about
a. ………………………………………energy is stored in the battery

b. ……………………………………… energy is transferred in the wires. [2]
2. Name the energy store in each of these. There may be more than one for each,.
a. food
b. gasoline (petrol)
c. a falling rock
d. a book that has been lifted up onto a shelf. [4]
3. a. Name two energy stores that will last for a long time [2]
b. Name one energy store , apart from thermal energy, that will not last for a long time [1]
4. Describe an example that shows that thermal energy cannot be stored for a long time. [2]

5. The human population in the world is growing. Many countries are developing rapidly.
Explain how this is affecting the amount of energy being used in the world. Use some
examples of different energy stores and transfers in your answer.
Discuss your answer with your friend. [3]
CHANGES IN ENERGY (ENERGY CONVERSIONS OR TRANSFORMATION)
 When energy changes from one form to another, we say it has been transformed or
converted. In an energy transformation, energy is converted from one form (energy store)
to another.
Question: How does energy change?

We have learnt that energy is something that must be changed / transferred for something
to be done (work to be done). Before energy is changed or transferred, it is stored and
when energy is stored the energy is not doing anything. Energy is transformed (changed)
during events and processes.
a. Look at the pot on the right being used to cook food.
1. The fuel for the fire is wood. Wood is a store of chemical energy
2. Burning the wood changes the chemical energy to thermal energy
(heat).
3. The thermal energy is then transferred to the pot and the food
inside.
b. Look at people walking upstairs
1. They are changing chemical energy from their food into kinetic energy for movement.
2. The movement is taking people higher, so kinetic energy is being changed to gravitational
potential energy. from
Chemical energy → kinetic energy → gravitational potential energy

(due to food) (due to motion) (as the height from the ground increase)
 Some energy conversions / transformations include;

S/N EXAMPLE ENERGY TRANSFORMATION
1. A cyclist peddling downhill. Gravitational potential energy → kinetic energy
2. A cyclist peddling uphill at constant Chemical energy → gravitational potential

speed. energy
3. Light bulb Electrical energy → (heat energy + light energy)
4. Waterfall Gravitational potential energy → kinetic energy
5. Bow and arrow Elastic potential (Strain) energy → kinetic

energy
6. A cell Chemical energy → electrical energy

7. A dynamo Kinetic energy → electrical energy
A GAS-FIRED POWER STATION
A gas-fired power plant or gas-fired power station or natural gas power plant is a thermal
power station which burns natural gas to generate electricity
How a gas-fired power station looks like
ENERGY CHANGES IN A NATURAL GAS- FIRED POWER STATION
 This power station is using chemical energy stored in natural gas.

 The gas is burned, which changes the chemical energy to thermal (heat) energy.
 The thermal energy is then changed to kinetic energy in large generators that spin around
 The kinetic energy is then changed to electrical energy
 The electrical energy is then transferred through wires into homes and buildings.
Chemical energy to thermal (heat) energy to kinetic energy & finally to electrical energy
DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH ENERGY CHANGES
 Energy changes are not always helpful. The following are some of the dangers associated
with energy changes.
1. Typhoons
2. Hurricanes
3. Earthquakes
4. Tsunamis

EVENTS AND PROCESSES
In all these examples of energy changes, there is a process or event that changes or
transfers energy.
 For example burning is a process. It changes chemical energy stored in a fuel to thermal
energy.
 We can represent the processes as arrows and draw diagrams to show changes in energy.
Here are some examples.
1. A fire that burns wood changes chemical energy to thermal energy.
2. A television converts electrical energy to sound and light energy.
3. When a book falls from a shelf that is an event. When the book is on the shelf, the book
has stored gravitational potential energy. This energy is changed to kinetic energy as the
book falls.
You can represent events such as this in a diagram.
Expert tip: Note that, the energy changes shown in the diagrams above are useful changes.
(Useful energy change means that energy is changed in a way that we want). Also
remember that some energy changes are not useful (they waste energy).

1. Copy and complete the sentence
When something happens, energy is ……………………. or …………………. [2]
2. The useful energy change in a candle can be written as
Chemical to light
Write down the useful energy change in each of these.

a. an electric lamp
b. a bus
c. a radio [6]
3. Draw diagrams to show the energy changes in:
a. a motorcycle that uses gasoline (petrol) for movement. [2]
b. a wood-burning fire used for cooking. [2]
c. a bird using movement of its wings to fly higher. [2]
d. a ball rolling down a hill. [2]
USEFUL AND WASTED ENERGY
Starting points
1. When energy is changed, some of it will be useful energy and some is wasted.
2. Some of this wasted energy can never be recovered and we say it has been dissipated.
Question: Where does energy go?
 Every time you use energy to make something happen, energy is transferred or changed.
Some of the energy is transferred or changed into useful energy but some of it is wasted.
 The energy we want is useful energy but the energy we don’t want is wasted energy.
 Look at the picture on the right of fuel being added to a motorcycle.
 The motorcycle engine uses chemical energy stored in the fuel.
 This chemical energy is changed to useful kinetic energy to
move the motorcycle and the rider.
 The chemical energy from the fuel is also changed into thermal
(heat) energy and sound energy.
 In fact, only about ¼ or 25% of the chemical energy in the fuel is
used for movement. The other ¾ or 75% of the energy is wasted
energy (wasted as thermal energy (heat) and sound).
 Wasted energy is dissipated (lost) and cannot be recovered.
 Dissipated energy is energy that spreads out where there
is no use for it.
Note that, you cannot gather thermal (heat) energy
or sound energy and bring them back into one
place to be stored, changed or transformed.
The dissipation of energy is dependent on the
device. Some devices dissipate energy more than
others. (Look at the lamps on the right)
1. Both lamps A and B in the picture change electrical
energy into light energy
2. Lamp A only changes about 15% of the electrical
energy into light. 85% of the electrical energy is

wasted as thermal (heat) energy from the lamp. This is dissipated (lost) as heat (thermal
energy).
3. Lamp B changes about 50% of the electrical energy into light. 50% of the electrical energy
is dissipated (lost) as heat (thermal energy) from this lamp.
Every time energy is changed or transferred, there is some thermal (heat) energy wasted.
This wasted thermal energy is dissipated (lost to the surroundings).
 Look at water being heated in this picture
 In the picture chemical energy from the wood is being changed to thermal energy by the
process of burning.
 The thermal energy is being used to heat the water. (This is useful energy).
How is energy being wasted here?
 Some thermal energy is being used to heat the rocks, the metal container and the air
around it. Some of the thermal energy is escaping in the steam.
 The fire is also changing energy into light. All these represent wasted energy that is
dissipated and cannot be recovered.
 For everything that uses energy change or transfer, some of that energy will always be
dissipated.

1. Which of these terms describe energy that is dissipated
a. energy that spread out and become less useful.
b. energy that becomes more useful
c. energy that can be used later
d. energy that is not useful but can be stored.
2. Which of these can be dissipated?
Choose all that are correct.
Chemical thermal light sound elastic
3. List all the energy changes in these processes.

List the energy as either useful or wasted.
a. Using electricity in a lamp.
b. Using petro (gasoline) in a car engine
c. Using electricity in a motor.
4. As you move away from a hot object, you feel less heat from it. The temperature will go
down as you move

further away.
Which of these graphs shows how he temperature changes with increasing distance from
the hot object?
THE PRINCIPLE OF CONSERVATION OF ENERGY
Question: State the principle of conservation of energy.

Answer
 It states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed but it can be transformed
(converted) from one form to another.
In any energy transfer, the total amount of energy before and after the transfer is constant.
Example: Electrical energy of 100J may be transformed into 2J of light energy (useful energy)
and wasted as 98J of heat (thermal) energy to the surrounding air. It follows that, the total
electrical energy = (light energy + heat energy)
Illustration
Total energy input = total energy output

Or
Total energy supplied = useful energy + wasted energy
SAMPLE PAST PAPER QUESTION & ANSWERS
1. Energy is transferred from one form into another.
(a) The diagram shows a television.
Complete the energy transfer for the television.

.......................................... energy
.......................................... energy → .......................................... energy
Answer ................................... energy [1]
 light energy
 electrical energy → sound energy
 thermal energy
(b) A car transfers chemical energy in gasoline (petrol) into thermal energy, sound energy and
kinetic energy only.
The car transfers 100 J of chemical energy into 70 J of thermal energy and 10 J of sound
energy.

(i) Calculate how much chemical energy is transferred into kinetic energy. [1]
Answer
Hint: Note that the useful energy in this case is the kinetic energy. Wasted energy is thermal
energy and sound.
 From the law of conservation of energy.

Total energy input = total energy output (i.e. useful energy + wasted energy)
Useful energy = Total energy input − wasted energy
Wasted energy = thermal energy + sound energy
Wasted energy = (70 + 10)J = 80J
Useful energy (kinetic energy) = (100 − 80)J = 20J
kinetic energy = 20J

(ii) Describe what happens to the sound and thermal energy. [1]
Answer
 It dissipates (spreads out) or it is transferred to the environment or surroundings
[Total: 3]
2. Energy can be transferred from one form into another form.
(a) A light source transfers 20 J of energy into 4 J of light and some heat energy
(i) Calculate how much energy is transferred into heat energy.
Answer
{Total input = 20J, Useful energy (light) = 4J, wasted enegy (thermal/heat) =? J)
Hint: Note that the useful energy in this case is the light energy. Wasted energy is thermal
(heat) energy.
 From the law of conservation of energy.

Total energy input = total energy output (i.e. useful energy + wasted energy)
Wasted energy = Total energy input − useful energy
Wasted energy = (20 − 4)J = 16J
Heat energy = 16J

(ii) Describe what happens to this heat energy [1]
Answer
 Heat energy is dissipated.

 it is transferred to the environment or surroundings
(b) A microphone transfers sound energy into 120 J of electrical energy and 30 J of heat
energy. Calculate how much sound energy is transferred. [1]
Answer
 Total sound energy = (120J + 30J) = 150J

(c) Look at the pictures.
Complete the energy transfer for each picture.
[3]
Answer
1. Electric drill
 Electrical energy → (kinetic + heat + sound)
2. Sky diver falling out of a plane
 Gravitational potential energy → (kinetic + heat)
3. Girl running
 Chemical energy → (kinetic + heat)
[Total: 5]

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SIMPLIFIED YEAR 8 SCIENCE 0893 (PHYSICS) NOTES 2023 EDITION 1

(Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint Science)

(Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint Science)

 Kinetic energy is the energy possessed by an object when it is moving (motion).

𝑚 − is the mass in kg and

𝑣 − is the velocity of the object in m/s.

(Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint Science)

Question: What is potential energy?

 The gravitational potential energy of the ball is equal to the work

AN EXPRESSION FOR POTENTIAL ENERGY

Question: Show that the potential energy is given by 𝑃. 𝑒 = 𝑚𝑔ℎ

 Downward force on the ball = weight = mg

𝑊 = 𝐹 x 𝑑 = 𝐹 x ℎ (since 𝑑 = ℎ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐹 = 𝑊 = 𝑚𝑔)

{Given 𝑚 = 2kg, 𝑔 = 10N/kg , ℎ = 3m, g. p. e =? J}

g.p.e = 2kg x 3m x 10N/kg = 60J

(Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint Science)

 Energy is a scalar quantity (it has magnitude and size) but no

Energy type Description Energy store or energy

(Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint Science)

 A bus moving uphill.

(Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint Science)

A tennis ball has a store of kinetic energy while it is moving.

PROGRESS CHECK QUESTIONS

a. ………………………………………energy is stored in the battery

(Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint Science)

CHANGES IN ENERGY (ENERGY CONVERSIONS OR TRANSFORMATION)

Question: How does energy change?

Chemical energy → kinetic energy → gravitational potential energy

(Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint Science)

2. A cyclist peddling uphill at constant Chemical energy → gravitational potential

3. Light bulb Electrical energy → (heat energy + light energy)

4. Waterfall Gravitational potential energy → kinetic energy

5. Bow and arrow Elastic potential (Strain) energy → kinetic

6. A cell Chemical energy → electrical energy

(Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint Science)

A GAS-FIRED POWER STATION

ENERGY CHANGES IN A NATURAL GAS- FIRED POWER STATION

 This power station is using chemical energy stored in natural gas.

(Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint Science)

2. A television converts electrical energy to sound and light energy.

PROGRESS CHECK QUESTIONS

(Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint Science)

(Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint Science)

PROGRESS CHECK QUESTIONS

(Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint Science)

down as you move

Question: State the principle of conservation of energy.

(Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint Science)

Total energy input = total energy output

Complete the energy transfer for the television.

(Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint Science)

 From the law of conservation of energy.

Useful energy = Total energy input − wasted energy

Wasted energy = thermal energy + sound energy

Wasted energy = (70 + 10)J = 80J

Useful energy (kinetic energy) = (100 − 80)J = 20J

kinetic energy = 20J

 It dissipates (spreads out) or it is transferred to the environment or surroundings

 From the law of conservation of energy.

Wasted energy = Total energy input − useful energy

Wasted energy = (20 − 4)J = 16J

Heat energy = 16J

(Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint Science)