Units / Unit B / Force, Work, Gravitational PE, and the Joule

Force, Work, Gravitational PE, and the Joule

Force, work, Ep, Ek, energy change, and the joule as SI unit (B-GO2-SO8–SO12).

Full lesson guide (printable)

Outcome checklist

Alberta Program of Studies — tick each row when you can explain it without the slide.

B-GO2-SO8
By the end of this lesson you should be able to: Recall, from previous studies, the operational definition for force as a push or a pull, and for work as energy expended when the speed of an object is increased, or when an object is moved against the influence of an opposing force
Self-check: Without looking at your notes, give one example or explanation that shows you meet B-GO2-SO8.
B-GO2-SO9
By the end of this lesson you should be able to: Define gravitational potential energy as the work against gravity
Self-check: Without looking at your notes, give one example or explanation that shows you meet B-GO2-SO9.
B-GO2-SO10
By the end of this lesson you should be able to: Relate gravitational potential energy to work done using Ep = mgh and W = Fd and show that a change in energy is equal to work done on a system: ∆E = W
Self-check: Without looking at your notes, give one example or explanation that shows you meet B-GO2-SO10.
B-GO2-SO11
By the end of this lesson you should be able to: Quantify kinetic energy using Ek = 1/2 mv² and relate this concept to energy conservation in transformations (e.g., for an object falling a distance "h" from rest: mgh = Fd = 1/2 mv²)
Self-check: Without looking at your notes, give one example or explanation that shows you meet B-GO2-SO11.
B-GO2-SO12
By the end of this lesson you should be able to: Derive the SI unit of energy and work, the joule, from fundamental units
Self-check: Without looking at your notes, give one example or explanation that shows you meet B-GO2-SO12.
B-GO2
Big idea: Explain and apply concepts used in theoretical and practical measures of energy in mechanical systems
Self-check: How does today's lesson connect to B-GO2?

Where this shows up later

Unit B — Motion graphs: Work connects force, displacement, and energy.

Glossary

force: Key vocabulary for this lesson (force). Use your class notes and the slide explanations to state it in your own words — Alberta Science 10 expects you to use this term correctly in context.
work: Energy transferred when a force moves an object (W = Fd cos θ).
gravitational potential energy: Key vocabulary for this lesson (gravitational potential energy). Use your class notes and the slide explanations to state it in your own words — Alberta Science 10 expects you to use this term correctly in context.
kinetic energy: Key vocabulary for this lesson (kinetic energy). Use your class notes and the slide explanations to state it in your own words — Alberta Science 10 expects you to use this term correctly in context.
joule: SI unit of energy and work (J).

Lab and demo watch-outs

Before lab or demo
Metre sticks, spring scales or force sensors, ramp demo.
Follow your teacher's instructions and school safety rules.
Lab safety
Follow school lab procedures and WHMIS labels for any chemicals shown.
Whenever chemicals or equipment are used in class.

Slide 1 of 911%

Hook

Push, pull, and pay in joules

Work when increasing speed or moving against an opposing force.
Energy change on a system equals work done on it: ΔE = W.

Core explanation

We start with a real situation: Work when increasing speed or moving against an opposing force. Energy change on a system equals work done on it: ΔE = W. Your job is to notice evidence and ask questions before memorizing definitions.

Check your understanding

Can you connect this slide to something we learned earlier today?

Explain moreDeeper teaching notes — read like a tutor explaining the idea

Unit B — Force, Work, Gravitational PE, and the Joule: Forces that move objects through distance transfer energy as work (joules). On this slide («Push, pull, and pay in joules»), the science story is: Work when increasing speed or moving against an opposing force. Energy change on a system equals work done on it: ΔE = W. Read like a tutor: connect each bullet to evidence or a model, not memorized wording. Alberta Science 10 expects you to explain ideas in class discussions and written work — this slide supports outcomes B-GO2-SO8, B-GO2-SO9.

Worked example(s)Step-by-step reasoning, not just answers

Apply: Push, pull, and pay in joules
1. State the core idea: Work when increasing speed or moving against an opposing force.
2. Link to a second point: Energy change on a system equals work done on it: ΔE = W.
3. Give one Alberta or daily-life example that fits both ideas.
4. Check your example against the slide — would your teacher agree?
Why this works: Application proves understanding beyond repeating bullets.

Common mistakes to avoid

Force and energy are not the same quantity — work links them when displacement occurs.
On «Push, pull, and pay in joules», use the slide model and vocabulary (force, work, gravitational potential energy, kinetic energy) to replace this idea.
Carrying a heavy box at constant speed does no work on the box in the physics sense (no displacement in force direction).
On «Push, pull, and pay in joules», use the slide model and vocabulary (force, work, gravitational potential energy, kinetic energy) to replace this idea.

Try it yourself

Teach «Push, pull, and pay in joules» aloud in 60 seconds using two bullets and one vocabulary word from force.