Year 7 Science · Unit 3 · Lesson 12

Potential Energy — Gravitational and Elastic

Foundation Worksheet

Name

Date

Class

Learning Goals

Define gravitational potential energy and elastic potential energy using key vocabulary.
Identify whether a given situation involves gravitational PE, elastic PE, or kinetic energy.
Complete sentences using lesson vocabulary about stored energy.

Warm Up

Fill the gap

Choose the correct word from the word bank to complete each sentence. Each word is used only once. Two words in the bank are distractors — they are not needed.

gravitational potential kinetic height elastic stored pendulum temperature chemical

1. Energy that is held "ready to be released" is called energy.

2. potential energy is stored energy that depends on an object's above the ground. An object with more mass at the same height has more of this energy.

3. A stretched rubber band stores potential energy. This energy is released as energy when the band flies through the air.

4. In a swinging , gravitational PE is greatest at the highest point and kinetic energy is greatest at the lowest point.

5. The energy stored in a compressed spring is energy — it does not cause motion until the spring is released.

Your Turn

Sort it!

Write each item from the pool into the correct category box below. Each item belongs in only one category.

Water in Lake Eucumbene (Snowy Mountains) A drawn archery bow A skier at the top of a slope A trampoline mat pushed down A roller coaster car at the top of the first drop A stretched bungee cord A ball falling toward the ground A compressed car suspension spring A mango falling from a rainforest tree A wound-up clockwork toy spring

Gravitational PE

Elastic PE

Kinetic Energy

Show What You Know

1. A 4 kg bowling ball and a 0.5 kg tennis ball are both placed on a shelf 2 metres above the floor. Which has more gravitational potential energy? Explain why, using the factors that affect gravitational PE.

Recall 2 marks

2. A rubber band is stretched further and further. A student says: "Eventually the rubber band will store unlimited elastic PE." Explain why this is incorrect, using the concept of the elastic limit.

Recall 2 marks

Wrap Up

In one sentence, what was the main idea of this lesson?