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E
Emily
05/12/2025
Physics
Energy P1
51
•
5 Dec 2025
•
Exploring Energy Fundamentals
E
Emily
@emily_qvja
1 / 3
Types of Energy and Energy Transfer
Ever wondered why your phone gets warm when charging or why a bouncing ball doesn't quite reach the same height twice? It's all about energy transfer and the different forms energy can take.
There are eight main types of energy you need to know. Thermal energy makes things hot, kinetic energy keeps things moving, and gravitational potential energy (GPE) is stored in anything lifted off the ground. You'll also encounter chemical energy (like in batteries), electrical energy, sound energy, light energy, and atomic energy from nuclear reactions.
Here's the golden rule: energy is always conserved. This means energy can never be created or destroyed - it just transfers from one form to another. When you jump on a trampoline, your GPE converts to kinetic energy, then to elastic potential energy (EPE) as the trampoline stretches, then back again.
Key Point: Energy is measured in Joules (J) - always remember this unit for your exams!
The reason a bouncing ball loses height each time is because some energy becomes wasted energy (usually heat or sound) rather than useful energy that keeps the ball bouncing.
Energy Calculations Made Simple
Calculating energy might seem tricky, but these formulas are your best friends for GCSE physics. Once you've practiced them a few times, they become second nature.
For gravitational potential energy, use: GPE = m × g × h. Mass is in kg, gravity is 9.8 N/kg , and height is in metres. So if you lift a 65kg person 30m high, that's 65 × 9.8 × 30 = 19,110 J stored as GPE.
Kinetic energy follows: KE = 0.5 × m × v². Remember to square the velocity! A 200kg car moving at 14 m/s has 0.5 × 200 × 14² = 19,600 J of kinetic energy.
Exam Tip: Always check your units match the formula - mass in kg, velocity in m/s, and your answer will be in Joules.
For elastic potential energy: EPE = 0.5 × k × e², where k is the spring constant and e is the extension. This one's less common in exams but still important to know.
Specific Heat Capacity and Practical Work
Understanding specific heat capacity helps explain why some materials heat up faster than others - think about how metal spoons get hot in soup whilst wooden ones don't.
Specific heat capacity tells you how much energy you need to heat 1kg of a substance by 1°C. The formula is: E = m × c × Δθ, where E is energy (J), m is mass (kg), c is specific heat capacity , and Δθ is the temperature change (°C).
When conducting the practical experiment, you'll test three different 1kg material blocks. Insert a heater and thermometer into each block, record the starting temperature, then heat for exactly 5 minutes whilst measuring energy input with a joulemeter.
Method Reminder: Keep the time, starting temperature, and room temperature the same for all three blocks - these are your control variables.
The independent variable is the type of material block you're testing, whilst the dependent variable is the specific heat capacity you calculate. Materials with lower specific heat capacity will show bigger temperature increases for the same energy input.
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
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This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
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Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Exploring Energy Fundamentals
E
Emily
@emily_qvja
Energy is everywhere around you - from the kinetic energy in your moving bike to the chemical energy in your phone battery. Understanding how energy transfers and transforms is crucial for GCSE physics, and once you grasp these concepts, you'll... Show more
Types of Energy and Energy Transfer
Ever wondered why your phone gets warm when charging or why a bouncing ball doesn't quite reach the same height twice? It's all about energy transfer and the different forms energy can take.
There are eight main types of energy you need to know. Thermal energy makes things hot, kinetic energy keeps things moving, and gravitational potential energy (GPE) is stored in anything lifted off the ground. You'll also encounter chemical energy (like in batteries), electrical energy, sound energy, light energy, and atomic energy from nuclear reactions.
Here's the golden rule: energy is always conserved. This means energy can never be created or destroyed - it just transfers from one form to another. When you jump on a trampoline, your GPE converts to kinetic energy, then to elastic potential energy (EPE) as the trampoline stretches, then back again.
Key Point: Energy is measured in Joules (J) - always remember this unit for your exams!
The reason a bouncing ball loses height each time is because some energy becomes wasted energy (usually heat or sound) rather than useful energy that keeps the ball bouncing.
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Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Energy Calculations Made Simple
Calculating energy might seem tricky, but these formulas are your best friends for GCSE physics. Once you've practiced them a few times, they become second nature.
For gravitational potential energy, use: GPE = m × g × h. Mass is in kg, gravity is 9.8 N/kg , and height is in metres. So if you lift a 65kg person 30m high, that's 65 × 9.8 × 30 = 19,110 J stored as GPE.
Kinetic energy follows: KE = 0.5 × m × v². Remember to square the velocity! A 200kg car moving at 14 m/s has 0.5 × 200 × 14² = 19,600 J of kinetic energy.
Exam Tip: Always check your units match the formula - mass in kg, velocity in m/s, and your answer will be in Joules.
For elastic potential energy: EPE = 0.5 × k × e², where k is the spring constant and e is the extension. This one's less common in exams but still important to know.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Specific Heat Capacity and Practical Work
Understanding specific heat capacity helps explain why some materials heat up faster than others - think about how metal spoons get hot in soup whilst wooden ones don't.
Specific heat capacity tells you how much energy you need to heat 1kg of a substance by 1°C. The formula is: E = m × c × Δθ, where E is energy (J), m is mass (kg), c is specific heat capacity , and Δθ is the temperature change (°C).
When conducting the practical experiment, you'll test three different 1kg material blocks. Insert a heater and thermometer into each block, record the starting temperature, then heat for exactly 5 minutes whilst measuring energy input with a joulemeter.
Method Reminder: Keep the time, starting temperature, and room temperature the same for all three blocks - these are your control variables.
The independent variable is the type of material block you're testing, whilst the dependent variable is the specific heat capacity you calculate. Materials with lower specific heat capacity will show bigger temperature increases for the same energy input.
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
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Most popular content: Kinetic Energy
Most popular content in Physics
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Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.
Students love us — and so will you.
4.9/5
App Store
4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user