● Nuclear Energy: Energy stored within the

nucleus of an atom.
○ Source: Nuclear reactions (fission,
SDA Physics fusion)
○ Example: Nuclear power plants, the
Sun
Kinetic and Potential Energy (Mechanical):
Energy, Work and Power
● Kinetic Energy (KE):
Various Forms of Energy and Their Sources:
○ Formula: KE = 1/2 x m x v²
■ m: mass (kg)
● Kinetic Energy (KE): The energy of motion.
Any moving object possesses kinetic energy. ■ v: velocity (m/s)
○ Source: Motion itself ● Gravitational Potential Energy (GPE):
○ Example: A rolling ball, a running ○ Formula: GPE = m x g x h
person ■ m: mass (kg)
● Potential Energy (PE): Stored energy due to an ■ g: acceleration due to
object's position or state. gravity (≈ 9.81 m/s² on
○ Gravitational Potential Energy (GPE): Earth)
Energy stored due to an object's ■ h: height (m)
height above a reference point.
■ Source: Gravity Energy Conversions and Calculations:
■ Example: A book on a
shelf, water in a raised ● Example: A ball is dropped from a height. As it
reservoir falls, its GPE decreases, and its KE increases.
○ Chemical Potential Energy: Energy The total mechanical energy (KE + GPE)
stored in the bonds of molecules. remains constant, illustrating the conservation
of energy.
■ Source: Chemical reactions
● Calculation: If a 0.5 kg ball is dropped from 10
■ Example: Food, batteries m, calculate its GPE at the top and its KE just
○ Elastic Potential Energy: Energy before hitting the ground (ignoring air
stored in stretched or compressed resistance).
objects.
■ Source: Deformation Principle of Conservation of Energy:
■ Example: A stretched
spring, a drawn bow ● Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only
● Thermal Energy (Heat): The total kinetic and transformed from one form to another.
potential energy of the particles within an ● Examples:
object. ○ A light bulb converts electrical
○ Source: Temperature energy into light and heat.
○ Example: A hot cup of coffee, the ○ A car engine converts chemical
Sun energy (fuel) into kinetic energy
● Electrical Energy: Energy associated with the (motion).
flow of electric charge.
○ Source: Electric current Major Energy Sources in Botswana:
○ Example: Power lines, lightning
● Light Energy: Energy that travels as
● Coal: Abundant, used for electricity
generation.
electromagnetic waves.
○ Source: Luminous objects
● Solar: High potential due to sunny climate.

○ Example: Sunlight, a light bulb

● Biomass: Wood, agricultural waste used for
cooking and heating.
● Sound Energy: Energy that travels as
Socio-Economic and Environmental Impacts:
vibrations through a medium (like air or
water). ● Coal:
○ Source: Vibrating objects ○ Socio-Economic: Provides jobs,
○ Example: A ringing bell, a person affordable electricity.
speaking
 ○ Environmental: Air pollution, 1.5.2.3 Relationship Between Work and Energy:
greenhouse gas emissions,
contributes to climate change. ● Work-Energy Principle: The work done on an
● Solar: object is equal to the change in its energy.
○ Socio-Economic: Potential for job ○ Positive work: If work is done on an
creation, reduces reliance on fossil object, its energy increases. For
fuels. example, lifting a box increases its
○ Environmental: Minimal pollution, gravitational potential energy.
land use for solar farms. ○ Negative work: If work is done by an
● Biomass: object, its energy decreases. For
example, a ball rolling to a stop loses
○ Socio-Economic: Readily available in kinetic energy due to friction.
rural areas.
● Forms of Energy Transfer: Work can transfer
○ Environmental: Deforestation, energy between different forms:
indoor air pollution.
○ Kinetic Energy: A force doing work
Absolutely! Here are detailed but concise notes on the on an object can increase its speed
IGCSE Physics objectives focusing on work, energy, and (and thus its kinetic energy).
their relationship: ○ Potential Energy: Work done against
gravity increases an object's
Work Done, Force, and Distance: gravitational potential energy.
○ Thermal Energy: Work done against
● Work: The transfer of energy that occurs friction converts some energy into
when a force makes an object move a certain heat.
distance.
○ Key Points: Key Points:
■ Work is done only when
the force has a component ● Work is a scalar quantity (it has magnitude but
acting in the same no direction).
direction as the motion. ● Work is only done when there is a force and a
■ If the force and displacement in the direction of the force.
displacement are ● The work done on an object can manifest as a
perpendicular, no work is change in its kinetic energy, potential energy,
done. or both.
○ Formula: Work (W) = Force (F) x
Distance (s) Power in Physics
■ W: Work done (in Joules, J)
■ F: Force applied (in Definition and Explanation of Power:
Newtons, N)
■ s: Distance moved in the ● Power (P): The rate at which work is done or
direction of the force (in the rate at which energy is transferred.
meters, m) ● Explanation: Power is a measure of how
○ Units: Work is measured in Joules quickly energy is used or converted. A
(J), which is equivalent to Newton- powerful machine or person can do the same
meters (Nm). amount of work as a less powerful one, but in
a shorter amount of time.
1.5.2.2 Using the relationship W = F x s: ● Units: Power is measured in watts (W), where
1 watt is equal to 1 joule of work done or
● Example 1: A person pushes a box with a force energy transferred per second (1 W = 1 J/s).
of 50 N for a distance of 3 meters. How much
work is done? Using the Equation P = W/t in Calculations:
○ W = 50 N x 3 m = 150 J
● Example 2: A crane lifts a 2000 kg load to a ● Formula:
height of 10 meters. Calculate the work done ○ P: Power (in watts, W)
by the crane (against gravity). ○ W: Work done (in joules, J)
○ Force (F) = weight = mass x gravity = ○ t: Time (in seconds, s)
2000 kg x 9.81 m/s² ≈ 19620 N
○ Distance (s) = 10 m Examples:
○ W = 19620 N x 10 m = 196200 J
 1. A person lifts a 20 kg box to a height of 1.5 m 3. Name the type of energy stored in a
in 5 seconds. Calculate the power exerted. stretched rubber band.
4. What type of energy is associated with
○ Weight of the box (Force): F = m x g
the movement of electrons?
= 20 kg x 9.81 m/s² ≈ 196.2 N
5. State the law of conservation of energy.
○ Work done: W = F x s = 196.2 N x 1.5 6. A ball of mass 0.2 kg is moving at 5 m/s.
m = 294.3 J Calculate its kinetic energy.
○ Power: P = W / t = 294.3 J / 5 s = 7. A 50 kg person climbs a 3 m ladder. How
58.86 W much gravitational potential energy do
2. A motor does 5000 J of work in 20 seconds. they gain? (Take g = 10 m/s²)
Calculate its power. 8. What is the difference between work and
power?
○ Power: P = W / t = 5000 J / 20 s =
9. Define power and state its SI unit.
250 W
10. A machine does 1200 J of work in 4
3. A cyclist exerts an average power of 150 W seconds. Calculate its power.
while cycling for 30 minutes. Calculate the 11. A rock is held at a height above the
work done. ground. Describe its energy
○ Time: t = 30 minutes x 60 transformations as it falls.
seconds/minute = 1800 s 12. Explain why a bouncing ball eventually
○ Work done: W = P x t = 150 W x comes to rest.
1800 s = 270,000 J 13. A car engine converts 100,000 J of
chemical energy into 30,000 J of kinetic
4. A 1000 kg car accelerates from rest to 20 m/s
energy. What happened to the rest of the
in 8 seconds. Calculate the average power
energy?
developed by the car's engine.
14. A 50 kg person runs up a flight of stairs 5
○ Kinetic Energy: KE = (1/2)mv² = (1/2) m high in 10 seconds. Calculate their
x 1000 kg x (20 m/s)² = 200,000 J power output. (Take g = 10 m/s²)
○ Work done (since starting from rest, 15. A 2000 kg car is traveling at 25 m/s.
work done = change in KE): W = Calculate its kinetic energy.
200,000 J 16. A pendulum swings back and forth. At
○ Power: P = W / t = 200,000 J / 8 s = what point in its swing does it have the
25,000 W (or 25 kW) most kinetic energy? The most potential
energy?
5. A water pump raises 500 kg of water through
17. Explain why a hydroelectric power plant
a vertical height of 20 m in 1 minute. Calculate
is an example of energy conversion.
the power output of the pump (assuming
18. A weightlifter lifts a 100 kg barbell 2 m
100% efficiency).
above the ground in 2 seconds. What is
○ Weight of water (Force): F = m x g = their power output? (Take g = 10 m/s²)
500 kg x 9.81 m/s² ≈ 4905 N 19. A ball is thrown upwards. Explain how its
○ Work done: W = F x s = 4905 N x 20 energy changes as it rises and falls.
m = 98100 J 20. A machine has an efficiency of 80%. If it is
○ Time: t = 1 minute x 60 supplied with 1000 J of energy, how
seconds/minute = 60 s much useful work can it do?
○ Power: P = W / t = 98100 J / 60 s = 21. A spring is compressed by 0.1 m. If its
1635 W spring constant is 500 N/m, calculate the
elastic potential energy stored in it.
22. A 0.2 kg ball is dropped from a height of 5
Key Points:
m. It bounces back to a height of 4 m.
How much energy is lost in the bounce?
● Power is a derived quantity. 23. A motor pulls a 100 kg block up a slope
● Higher power means more work done (or inclined at 30° with a constant speed of 2
energy transferred) in the same amount of m/s. The coefficient of friction between
time. the block and the slope is 0.2. Calculate
● Power is important in various applications like the power of the motor.
engines, electrical appliances, and even 24. A hydroelectric power plant has a
human activities. reservoir with a water level 50 m above
the turbines. If the flow rate of water is
QUESTIONS 1000 kg/s, calculate the maximum power
output of the plant.
25. Explain why a perpetual motion machine
1. What is the SI unit for energy? is impossible.
2. Give two examples of objects with kinetic 26. A light bulb is rated at 60 W. How much
energy. energy does it use in 1 hour?
27. A cyclist is pedaling with a power output
of 200 W. If they encounter a constant
resistance force of 50 N, what is their
speed?
28. Explain why the efficiency of an engine
can never be 100%.
29. A ball is thrown upwards with an initial
kinetic energy of 50 J. What is its
gravitational potential energy at its
highest point?
30. A car of mass 1500 kg accelerates from
10 m/s to 30 m/s. Calculate the work
done by the engine.