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Energy, Work and Power

4 dot points across 4 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

What are the main forms of energy, and what does it mean to say energy is conserved?

List the main forms of energy, describe energy transfers, and state the principle of conservation of energy
A focused answer to the O-Level Physics outcome on energy. The main forms of energy, how energy is transferred and transformed, the principle of conservation of energy, and why energy is often wasted as heat.
7 min answer →

How do we calculate the kinetic energy of a moving object and the potential energy of a raised one?

Apply the relationships for kinetic energy and gravitational potential energy and use energy conservation
A focused answer to the O-Level Physics outcome on kinetic and potential energy. The relationships for kinetic energy and gravitational potential energy, their units, and using conservation of energy to solve falling-object problems.
8 min answer →

What is power, and how do we measure how efficiently a device uses energy?

Define power, apply power equals work over time, and calculate efficiency as useful output over input
A focused answer to the O-Level Physics outcome on power and efficiency. Power as the rate of doing work, the watt, calculating power from energy and time, and efficiency as the fraction of input energy usefully transferred.
7 min answer →

What does it mean, in physics, to do work, and how is work related to energy?

Define work done, apply work equals force times distance, and link work to the transfer of energy
A focused answer to the O-Level Physics outcome on work. Work as force times distance moved in the direction of the force, the joule, when no work is done, and the link between work done and energy transferred.
7 min answer →