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Potential Energy. Wile E. Coyote & Roadrunner Clip. Gravitational Potential Energy. GPE = mgh m=mass g=gravity (9.8 m/s 2 ) h=height above a surface. AAK! A Formula!. The letters are variables and they’re placeholders for actual numbers.
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Potential Energy Wile E. Coyote & Roadrunner Clip
Gravitational Potential Energy • GPE = mgh • m=mass • g=gravity (9.8 m/s2) • h=height above a surface
AAK! A Formula! • The letters are variables and they’re placeholders for actual numbers. • Because the letters are side-by-side, you multiply them together. • To figure out potential energy, put numbers for all three and multiply together.
What units do I use? • Mass is measured in… • Kilograms • Gravity is measured in… • Meters/Second2 • Height is measured in… • Meters
kg x m x m= s2 • kg•m2= Joules s2
Let’s Try Some Equations • PE = mgh • For example, plug in 4 kilograms for m and 6 meters for h (ALWAYS use 9.8 m/s2 for g) • What’s the potential energy? • (4kg)(9.8 m/s2 )(6m) • 235 joules (approximately)
What if you double or triple the 4kg to 8kg or 12kg? • What if you double or triple the 6m to 12m or 18m? • Do the results agree with our experiment?
2kg 1kg 3kg 3m 1kg 2m 1m
What if you are given energy? • A bowling ball dropped from a height of 6 meters has 294 Joules of energy. What is the bowling ball’s mass? • What do we Know? • h = 6 meters • g = 9.8 m/s2 • PE = 294 J • PE = mgh • 294 J = (m)(9.8)(6) 294/58.8 = m 5 = m
Calculating Potential Energy • Mary is painting the ceiling in her bedroom. If her mass is 55 kg and she stands on a stepladder 1 meter high, how much potential energy does she have? • m = 55kg • h = 1 m • g = 9.8 m/s2 • PE = 55 x 1 x 9.8 • PE = 539 Joules
Calculating Potential Energy • The Drop Zone at King’s Island has a maximum weight limit of 2000kg and transfers 1,960,000 Joules of potential energy into kinetic to give riders a big thrill. How high does the Drop Zone go? • m = 2000 kg • PE = 1,960,000 J • g = 9.8 m/s2 • 1,960,000 = 2000 x h x 9.8 • h = 100 meters
Now YOU try! • Which team can come up with the funniest scenario for potential energy? • What you need to include: • 1. A paragraph “story” • 2. The mass of the object in kg • 3. The height of the object in meters • 4. An illustration of the scenario and • 5. Your work at the bottom that correctly solves the problem and included the energy in JOULES.