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Transformation

As you have learned and seen, the total amount of energy in a system is conserved. Remember from previous lessons that a system is simply the objects involved in the action or motion you are studying.

If energy is conserved within a system, then (as you have seen with the roller coaster example) often times, energy can be transformed or converted into different forms within the system.

Let's look at an example of a peach hanging from a tree.

Energy Transformations

In the image below, peaches hang on a tree. This is an example of a system that has gravitational potential energy.

peaches on a peach tree

  • While the peach is hanging on the tree, the peach-Earth system does not have kinetic energy.

  • When the peach begins to fall, it will inevitably get closer to the earth, decreasing the amount of gravitational potential energy.

  • The gravitational potential energy is transformed into kinetic energy as the peach continues to fall.

  • During this time, the speed of the peach increases, which increases its kinetic energy.

Watch the following videos to see more examples of energy transformation or conversions. PBS login information.