Energy transformations are really interesting because they show us how two types of energy—kinetic and potential—change when things move.

1. Kinetic Energy (KE):

Kinetic energy is the energy of movement.

Whenever something is moving, it has kinetic energy. We can figure out how much kinetic energy it has with this simple formula:

[ KE = \frac{1}{2} mv^2 ]

Here, ( m ) is the weight of the object, and ( v ) is how fast it’s going.

The quicker an object moves, the more kinetic energy it has!

2. Potential Energy (PE):

Potential energy is the energy that is stored because of an object’s position.

A great example is a roller coaster that is at the top of a hill. When the roller coaster is up high, it has a lot of potential energy. We can find out how much potential energy it has with this formula:

[ PE = mgh ]

In this one, ( h ) is the height of the hill.

Energy Transformations in Motion:

• Example 1: When a roller coaster goes down, its potential energy changes into kinetic energy. At the top of the hill, it has high potential energy. As it goes down, that energy turns into kinetic energy, and the same happens in reverse when it climbs back up.

• Example 2: Think of a pendulum. When it’s at the highest point, it has the most potential energy. As it swings down, that potential energy changes into kinetic energy, reaching its top speed at the lowest point.

Learning about these energy transformations helps us understand how energy stays the same in different situations!