


to the image on the next slide.




Energy!
define it



on your head!
You just stored some potential energy
in the book. Position matters!



This energy of position is called potential energy.


a tall ladder.
What have you stored?


One with a hardcover
will work the best.


It is not in motion but any second now
it COULD fall off of your head!
The book has energy stored in its position.
the ability, to become KINETIC energy if the book falls.
preferably on top of your head.
Stand very still. Don’t let it fall.

an entire room or outdoor space
with the book balanced on your head?


without dropping
the book?
Use a stop watch
to time yourself
or race with some friends.



to the energy of motion,
kinetic energy, as it falls!
what happens to the potential energy

So potential energy has the ABILITY to do work, too!

So it has the ability to do work.


moves an object a DISTANCE.
What does energy have to do with work

the ability to MOVE something
with a FORCE.



Can the skater complete your course?



swing highest?

of the arc --
at each end.




without it.
on the arc







sufficient energy
to reach it!
Hopefully it has enough
kinetic energy to reach that point!




mechanical energy relies
on an objects position
in a gravitational field
of motion called






to do WORK
