AP Physics 1 Flashcards: Conservation Of Energy

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Conservation Of Energy, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Physics 1.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: Calculate power if 60 J is used in 3 seconds.

Answer: Power = 20 W. Using $P = \frac{W}{t} = \frac{60}{3} = 20$ W.

Flashcard 2: Identify the energy form of a moving car.

Answer: Kinetic energy. Energy due to motion of the vehicle.

Flashcard 3: What is the energy form of light emitted by a bulb?

Answer: Radiant energy. Electromagnetic energy in the form of visible light waves.

Flashcard 4: Find and correct the error: 'Energy is lost in a closed system.'

Answer: Correct: 'Energy is transformed, not lost.'. Energy is conserved in closed systems, only transformed.

Flashcard 5: Find the power if 300 J is used in 10 seconds.

Answer: Power = 30 W. Using $P = \frac{W}{t} = \frac{300}{10} = 30$ W.

Flashcard 6: What is the energy form of a charged battery?

Answer: Chemical potential energy. Energy stored in chemical bonds for later use.

Flashcard 7: Identify an example of a non-conservative force.

Answer: Friction. Always opposes motion and converts mechanical energy to heat.

Flashcard 8: What is the energy form of a wound-up clock spring?

Answer: Elastic potential energy. Energy stored by winding the spring mechanism.

Flashcard 9: Which energy transformation occurs when a ball is thrown upwards?

Answer: Kinetic to potential energy. Ball slows down as it gains height, converting motion to position energy.

Flashcard 10: What is the energy transformation in a generator?

Answer: Mechanical to electrical energy. Converts rotational motion into electrical energy output.

Flashcard 11: What is the energy conversion in a hydroelectric dam?

Answer: Potential to kinetic to electrical energy. Water falls, spins turbines, generates electricity.

Flashcard 12: What does it mean for a force to be non-conservative?

Answer: Energy is not conserved; work depends on path. Work depends on path taken; mechanical energy decreases.

Flashcard 13: What happens to total energy in an isolated system?

Answer: It remains constant. Energy can only be transformed, never created or destroyed.

Flashcard 14: Define the Conservation of Mechanical Energy.

Answer: Total mechanical energy is constant if only conservative forces act. When only gravity and springs act, $KE + PE$ stays constant.

Flashcard 15: Identify the energy form of a compressed spring.

Answer: Elastic potential energy. Energy stored when spring is compressed or stretched.

Flashcard 16: Calculate work if a 50 N force moves an object 4 m at 60°.

Answer: $W = 100 \text{ J}$. Using $W = Fd\cos(60°) = (50)(4)(0.5) = 100$ J.

Flashcard 17: Find the kinetic energy of a 3 kg object moving at 4 m/s.

Answer: $KE = 24 \text{ J}$. Using $KE = \frac{1}{2}mv^2 = \frac{1}{2}(3)(4^2) = 24$ J.

Flashcard 18: State what happens to energy in inelastic collisions.

Answer: Mechanical energy is not conserved. Some kinetic energy converts to heat and sound.

Flashcard 19: Calculate potential energy of a 2 kg object at height 6 m.

Answer: $PE = 117.6 \text{ J}$. Using $PE = mgh = (2)(9.8)(6) = 117.6$ J.

Flashcard 20: Identify the energy transformation in a pendulum.

Answer: Potential to kinetic and vice versa. Pendulum continuously exchanges kinetic and potential energy.

Flashcard 21: What is the formula for power in terms of work?

Answer: $P = \frac{W}{t}$. Power equals work done divided by time taken.

Flashcard 22: What is the potential energy formula for a spring?

Answer: $PE = \frac{1}{2}kx^2$. Energy stored in compressed or stretched springs.

Flashcard 23: Calculate power if 60 J is used in 3 seconds.

Answer: Power = 20 W. Using $P = \frac{W}{t} = \frac{60}{3} = 20$ W.

Flashcard 24: Find the mechanical energy if a system has 100 J of KE and 200 J of PE.

Answer: Mechanical Energy = 300 J. Sum of kinetic and potential energies in the system.

Flashcard 25: Calculate the elastic potential energy for $k = 200 \text{ N/m}$ and $x = 0.1 \text{ m}$.

Answer: $PE = 1 \text{ J}$. Using $PE = \frac{1}{2}kx^2 = \frac{1}{2}(200)(0.1^2) = 1$ J.

Flashcard 26: Calculate total energy if a 5 kg object at 10 m has 200 J KE.

Answer: Total Energy = 690 J. Using $PE = mgh = (5)(9.8)(10) = 490$ J, total = $200 + 490 = 690$ J.

Flashcard 27: Identify the type of force that conserves mechanical energy.

Answer: Conservative force. Forces like gravity where work is path-independent.

Flashcard 28: Which energy transformation occurs when a ball is thrown upwards?

Answer: Kinetic to potential energy. Ball slows down as it gains height, converting motion to position energy.

Flashcard 29: State the energy conservation principle.

Answer: Energy cannot be created or destroyed. First law of thermodynamics: energy is conserved in all processes.

Flashcard 30: Find the increase in KE if work done is 150 J.

Answer: Increase in KE = 150 J. Work-energy theorem: work done equals change in kinetic energy.