Energy Fundamentals and Types
Energy follows one golden rule that makes physics predictable: energy can never be created or destroyed, only transferred from one form to another. This principle helps you solve countless physics problems because you know the total energy always stays the same in a closed system.
Kinetic energy is the energy of movement, and you'll use the formula Ek = ½mv² constantly in your exams. Whether it's a car speeding down the motorway or a football flying through the air, anything moving has kinetic energy that depends on both its mass and speed.
Gravitational potential energy increases as objects get higher above ground, using the formula Ep = mgh. Think about climbing stairs - you're literally storing energy that could be released if you fell! Elastic potential energy works similarly but with stretched or compressed objects like springs, using Ee = ½ke².
Key Concept: Work done equals energy transferred - this connection appears in loads of exam questions and helps you understand how forces create energy changes.
