Potential Energy and Kinetic Energy (3)

Formula for calculating weight

Weight = mass, m × gravitational acceleration, g where g is estimated at 10 m s–2 (or 10 N kg–1)

The relationship between gravitational potential energy and work

Gravitational potential energy is the work done to lift an object to a height, h, from the Earth's surface

The relationship between elastic potential energy and work

Elastic potential energy is the work done to compress or stretch an elastic material by a displacement, x from the equilibrium position

Example of object with small mass but high velocity

The bullet fired out of the gun

Example of object with large mass and high velocity

An airplane taking off from the runway at the airport

Factor that cause heavy vehicles have low speed but have energy high kinetics (1)

Although the value of velocity v for heavy vehicles is small, the value the mass m is large

Factor that cause heavy vehicles have low speed but have energy high kinetics (2)

Therefore, the large mass of the heavy vehicle causes a lot of kinetic energy to be possessed by the low-velocity heavy vehicle

Full form of m in gravitational potential energy formula, mgh

m is the object mass in kg

Full form of g in gravitational potential energy formula, mgh

g is the gravitational acceleration in m s–2

Full form of h in gravitational potential energy formula, mgh

h is the height in m