Starter quiz
- Which properties of an object can be increased so it has more energy in its gravitational store?
- height ✓
- mass ✓
- speed
- temperature
-
- Why does an object that is dropped accelerate downwards?
- Energy is created in the kinetic store.
- Energy is lost from the gravitational store.
- Energy is transferred to the kinetic store. ✓
- Energy is transferred from the gravitational store. ✓
-
- What happens to the amount of work done lifting a box of books, if the box is lifted to four times the height?
- 16× more
- 4× more ✓
- the same amount
- 4× less
- 16× less
-
- In science, what unit is the weight of an object measured in?
- kilograms (kg)
- newtons (N) ✓
- newtons per kilogram (N/kg)
- pounds (lb)
-
- How would you calculate the work done lifting a sack of onions onto a table?
- Work done = mass of the onions × height of the table
- Work done = mass of the onions ÷ height of the table
- Work done = weight of the onions × height of the table ✓
- Work done = weight of the onions ÷ height of the table
-
- The gravitational force on Earth is six times greater than it is on the Moon. Put the following tools in order of the amount of energy in the gravitational store, starting with the most energy.
- 1⇔A hammer has a mass of 2 kg and is on Earth.
- 2⇔An axe has a mass of 1.5 kg and is on Earth.
- 3⇔A drill has a mass of 3 kg and is on the Moon.
- 4⇔An electric saw has a mass of 2 kg and is on the Moon.
Exit quiz
- How much energy will be transferred to the gravitational store if two times the amount of work is done lifting a tray of cakes?
- The same amount
- 2× more ✓
- 4× more
-
- Which of these identical basketballs has the most energy in the gravitational store?
- A basketball stuck behind the hoop, at a height of 3.0 m. ✓
- A basketball flying through the air at a height of 2.9 m.
- A basketball falling from the roof of the sports hall, at a height of 2.8 m.
- A basketball that is moving very quickly up into the air, at a height of 2.4 m.
-
- What happens to the amount of energy in the gravitational store of a pile of bricks on a table if more bricks are added to double its mass?
- The amount of energy in the gravitational store does not change.
- The amount of energy in the gravitational store is two times bigger. ✓
- The amount of energy in the gravitational store is four times bigger.
-
- What is gravitational potential energy?
- The type of energy that is in the gravitational store.
- The type of energy an object has because it is above the ground.
- The amount of energy that is in the gravitational store. ✓
- The amount of energy an object has because it is above the ground.
-
- What is the gravitational energy of a discus of mass 2 kg moving at a speed of 8 m/s that is 9 m above the ground? (Gravitational field strength = 10 N/kg)
- '180 J' ✓
- What is the height of a javelin that has a gravitational energy of 216 J, a mass of 1.2 kg, and a speed of 12 m/s? (Gravitational field strength = 10 N/kg)
- '18 m' ✓
Worksheet
Presentation
Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- When an object moves upwards, work is done against the gravitational force.
- The gravitational force acting on an object does work to speed it up when it is falling.
- Weight = mass x gravitational field strength, W = mg
- Change in gravitational potential energy of an object = mass × gravitational field strength × change in height
Common misconception
Pupils often think that the amount of energy in the gravitational store depends on the path taken by an object to change its height, or the speed of an object at a particular height.
Teaching should include examples of objects increasing height by the same amount by different routes, and examples of objects at the same height moving at different speeds.
Keywords
Gravitational store - Objects have energy in the gravitational store because of their mass and their height.
Work done - Work is done whenever a force makes an object move. The amount of work done is equal to the force multiplied by distance moved in the direction of the force.
Weight - Weight = mass × gravitational field strength, measured in newtons.
Gravitational field strength - Gravitational field strength, g, is the force per kilogram caused by a gravitational field.
Gravitational potential energy - The energy stored in an object due to its height above the ground.