Energy store
Description
Examples
Magnetic
The energy stored when repelling poles have been
pushed closer together or when attracting poles have
been pulled further apart.
Fridge magnets, compasses,
maglev trains which use
magnetic levitation.
Internal
(thermal)
The total kinetic and potential energy of the particles in
an object, in most cases this is the vibrations - also
known as the kinetic energy - of particles. In hotter
objects, the particles have more internal energy and
vibrate faster.
Human bodies, hot coffees,
stoves or hobs. Ice particle s
vibrate slower, but still have
energy.
Chemical The energy stored in chemical bonds, such as those
between molecules. Foods, muscles, electrical cells.
Kinetic
The energy of a moving object.
Runners, buses, comets.
Electrostatic
The energy stored when repelling charges have been
moved closer together or when attracting charges have
been pulled further apart.
Thunderclouds, Van De Graaff
generators.
Elastic
potential
The energy stored when an object is stretched or
squashed.
Drawn catapults, compressed
springs, inflated balloons.
Gravitational
potential The energy of an object at height. Aeroplanes, kites, mugs on a
table.
Equation Meanings of terms in equation
Ek=0.5mv2
*
Ek = Kinetic Energy (Joules, J)
m = mass (kilograms, Kg)
v = velocity (metre s per second, m/s)
Ep = mgh
*
Ep = Gravitational potentia l energy (Joules, J)
m= mass (kilograms, Kg)
g = gravitational field strength (Newtons per Kilogram N/Kg)
h = height (metres, m)
Equation Meanings of terms in equation
Ee=0.5ke2
*
Ee = Elastic Potential En ergy (Joules, J)
k = spring constant (Newtons per metre N/m)
e = extension (metres, m)
Physics Knowledge Organiser
P1 – Energy stores and Systems Energy Systems and transfers
An energy system is an object or a group of objects in which energy may
change.
Energy can be transferred in a system in for main ways:
• Mechanical work – A force moving an object a distance
• Electrical work – Charges moving due to a potential difference
• Heating – Due to temperature differences caused electrically or
by a chemical reaction
• Radiation – energy transferred as a wave (Light, infrared, sound
etc). Light and infrared radiation are emitted from the sun.
We can show how energy is transferred by using two diagrams. Energy
transfer diagrams and Sankey diagrams.
Both diagrams are for a child at the top of a sl
ide. The gravitational energy
stored in the child at the top of the slide is transferred as mechanical work
done to speed up and do work against friction. The result of this is energy
shifts from gravitational potential energy to kinetic energy of the chil
d and
internal energy (raising the temperature of the slide and child). The Sankey
diagram includes the amount of energy and the width of the arrows are
drawn to scale.
Energy Stores
There are 7 main stores of energy in a system. These can be remembered using MICKEE G
