Lesson 9 of 12
⚡ Energy & Waves
What You'll Learn
- potential vs kinetic energy
- energy conservation
- wave properties: amplitude, frequency, wavelength
- electromagnetic spectrum
Key Concepts
Potential energy (PE) is stored energy (gravitational PE = mgh). Kinetic energy (KE) is energy of motion (KE = ½mv²). Total mechanical energy is conserved — PE converts to KE and back.
Waves transfer energy without transferring matter. Key properties: amplitude (height — relates to energy), wavelength (distance between crests), frequency (waves per second, measured in Hz).
The electromagnetic spectrum from low to high frequency: radio, microwave, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-ray, gamma ray.
🔬 Virtual Lab
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Quick Check
At the highest point of a pendulum swing, the pendulum has:
Which has the highest frequency on the EM spectrum?