Energy Flashcards – Cambridge IGCSE (9–1) Physics 0972 (Extended) (2026–2028)

What is a kinetic energy store associated with?

Motion.

What is a gravitational potential energy store associated with?

Position in a gravitational field.

What is an elastic or strain energy store associated with?

Deformation.

What is a chemical energy store associated with?

The arrangement of particles in substances.

What is a nuclear energy store associated with?

Atomic nuclei.

What is an electrostatic energy store associated with?

The positions of electric charges.

What is an internal or thermal energy store associated with?

The microscopic motion and interactions of particles within a system.

How can the energy in a store change?

Energy can be transferred into or out of the store.

What are the four energy transfer pathways?

Mechanical work, electrical work, heating and waves.

How does mechanical work transfer energy?

A force acts through a distance.

How does electrical work transfer energy?

Through an electrical current.

What causes energy to be transferred by heating?

A temperature difference.

What are two types of wave that can transfer energy?

Electromagnetic waves and sound waves.

What is the difference between an energy transfer pathway and an energy store?

A pathway describes how energy is transferred; a store describes where energy is associated before or after the transfer.

What does conservation of energy state for a closed system?

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, so the system’s total energy remains constant.

Where can energy be transferred?

Between energy stores or to the surroundings.

How is an increase in one energy store accounted for?

By a decrease in energy elsewhere.

What do arrows represent in an energy flow diagram?

Energy entering or leaving a process, or being transferred along different pathways.

In an energy flow diagram, how is total energy entering related to outputs and changes in stored energy?

Total energy entering equals total energy in the outputs plus any change in energy stored.

What do arrow widths drawn to scale represent in an energy flow diagram?

The relative amounts of energy transferred.