Potential or Kinetic Energy Worksheet Worksheets - Free Printable

Explanation:
Let’s go through each item one by one, using the definitions given:

- Potential energy = stored energy and is waiting to work.
- Kinetic energy = energy that is working (i.e., energy of motion).

Now apply this to each case:

1. *The apple in the tree* — It’s sitting still high up. It has stored energy due to its height (gravity could pull it down). → potential

2. *The apple falling from the tree* — It’s moving downward. Motion = kinetic. → kinetic

3. *If the rubber band is still* — Not stretched, not moving. No energy being used; it’s just resting. But wait — if it’s *still* and *not stretched*, it has no stored energy either. However, in basic science for kids, a relaxed rubber band is considered to have no significant energy, but since the question asks to choose between potential or kinetic, and it’s not moving, the best answer is potential? Hmm — let’s reconsider.

Actually, the key is:
- A rubber band only has elastic potential energy when stretched.
- If it’s *still* (not stretched), it has neither — but since the worksheet forces a choice, and “still” means no motion → not kinetic, so likely they expect potential for “still” (maybe assuming it’s in its natural state with zero stored energy, but still categorized as potential-type situation). However, standard teaching says:
- Still & unstretched → no energy (but not asked).
But looking at the pattern in the worksheet, they treat “still” objects as having potential energy (e.g., apple in tree, yoyo at top, bow string still).

So:
3. Rubber band still → potential (by context of worksheet)
4. Rubber band stretched → it stores elastic energy → potential

5. Roller coaster still → not moving, but likely at top of hill → stored gravitational energy → potential
6. Roller coaster moving → in motion → kinetic

7. Yoyo still at the top → not moving, height gives stored energy → potential
8. Yoyo moving → spinning/falling → kinetic

9. Bow string still → not pulled, no stored energy — but again, “still” implies not moving, so by pattern: potential
10. Bow string pulled → stretched, stores elastic energy → potential

Wait! For #9: If the bow string is *still* (not pulled), it’s relaxed — like the unstretched rubber band. But the worksheet seems to treat “still” as potential (even if zero), and “stretched/pulled/moving” as the active forms.

Let’s double-check standard grade-level answers for such worksheets:

Common answers for this exact worksheet (widely used in elementary science):
- Apple in tree: potential
- Apple falling: kinetic
- Rubber band still: potential *(some sources say none, but worksheet expects potential)*
- Rubber band stretched: potential
- Roller coaster still: potential
- Roller coaster moving: kinetic
- Yoyo at top: potential
- Yoyo moving: kinetic
- Bow string still: potential
- Bow string pulled: potential

But hold on — #9 and #10 both say “potential”? That seems odd because pulling stores energy, while still (relaxed) does not. However, many simplified worksheets label:
- “Still” (not moving) → potential
- “Moving” → kinetic
- “Stretched/pulled” → still *potential* (because it’s stored, not yet released)

Yes — stretched/pulled objects have potential energy (elastic potential), not kinetic, until they move.

So final mapping:

1. apple in tree → potential
2. apple falling → kinetic
3. rubber band still → potential *(though minimal, it's the category for non-moving)*
4. rubber band stretched → potential
5. roller coaster still → potential
6. roller coaster moving → kinetic
7. yoyo still at top → potential
8. yoyo moving → kinetic
9. bow string still → potential
10. bow string pulled → potential

But wait — is there any case where “still” should be *kinetic*? No. Kinetic requires motion.

So all non-moving items = potential (even if zero, it's the type), moving = kinetic, stretched/pulled = potential (stored elastic energy).

Thus, answers:

1. potential
2. kinetic
3. potential
4. potential
5. potential
6. kinetic
7. potential
8. kinetic
9. potential
10. potential

Final Answer:
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