Potential energy
Potential energy is energy due to the attraction between molecules.
States of matter
- solids have a larger potential energy store.
- liquids have much less potential energy.
- In theory, a gas has no potential energy.
Calculating potential energy
The potential energy and kinetic energy have to add up to make the total internal energy in the system, so to calculate potential energy, we do:
\text{potential energy}=\text{total energy}-\text{kinetic energy}
flashcards
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Potential energy | Energy due to the attraction between molecules. |
| Which state of matter has the largest potential energy store? | Solids. |
| How does the potential energy of a liquid compare to a solid? | Liquids have much less potential energy than solids. |
| What is the potential energy of a gas in theory? | A gas has no potential energy. |
| How do you calculate potential energy in a system? | |
| What must potential energy and kinetic energy add up to? | The total internal energy in the system. |