mechanics

Energy Conservation

Watch kinetic and potential energy trade off as a mass descends a 3D ramp. See conservation of energy in action with adjustable mass, height, and friction — live energy bar charts.

Energy

GCSE

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted between forms. Gravitational potential energy (GPE = mgh) converts to kinetic energy (KE = ½mv²) as objects fall. Some energy is lost to friction as thermal energy.

Mass2.0kg

Height5.0m

Friction0.2

📐 Formulas

E_p = mghGravitational potential energy

E_k = \frac{1}{2}mv^2Kinetic energy

E_p + E_k = \text{constant}In absence of friction

W = Fd\cos\thetaWork = force × displacement

📋 Syllabus

AQA4.1.1

EdexcelTopic 3