Energy

Kinetic and Potential Energy

AQA GCSE Physics

Kinetic energy

kinetic energy = 0.5 × mass × speed²E_k = ½ m v²

Square the speed first, then multiply.
Rearranged for mass: m = 2 E_k ÷ v². Rearranged for speed: v² = 2 E_k ÷ m.

Elastic potential energy

elastic potential energy = 0.5 × spring constant × extension²E_e = ½ k e²

Extension = stretched length − original length.
The equation applies assuming the limit of proportionality has not been exceeded.
The spring with the greatest spring constant needs the largest force per metre to stretch it.

Gravitational potential energy

gravitational potential energy = mass × gravitational field strength × heightE_p = m g h

Height is the vertical height moved.
When a falling object loses gravitational potential energy and gains kinetic energy: ½ m v² = m g h.

Quantities and units

Quantity	Symbol	Unit
Energy	E	J
Mass	m	kg
Speed	v	m/s
Spring constant	k	N/m
Extension	e	m
Gravitational field strength	g	N/kg
Height	h	m

These notes are part of an Excel with Osman subscription and are not available to print.

That was one page of 44

The rest of AQA GCSE Physics is written the same way

The other 43 pages of AQA GCSE Physics are written exactly like this one, with the mark scheme wording highlighted throughout. A year of the whole course is $6.99.

Get all 44 pages — $6.99 a year Next free page: Specific Heat Capacity

Subscriptions open as soon as payment processing is approved.