Energy Stores and Systems
Revise Energy Stores and Systems for GCSE Physics with this free worksheet and full mark scheme — Foundation and Higher exam-style questions with worked answers for AQA, Edexcel and OCR. Energy is held in kinetic, gravitational, elastic, thermal, chemical, magnetic, electrostatic and nuclear stores, and is transferred between them when a system changes.
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These worksheets and mark schemes are original, written for Virtus Academy and checked against the current AQA, Edexcel and OCR specifications. Every worksheet comes with a full mark scheme.
Topic overview
Energy is stored in different ways, and when something changes the energy is transferred between stores. The eight stores are kinetic, gravitational potential, elastic potential, thermal, chemical, magnetic, electrostatic and nuclear.
A system is an object or group of objects. When a system changes, energy is transferred — it can be transferred into or away from the system, between different objects, or between different stores within the same system.
The crucial language point is that energy is transferred between stores, not created, used up or produced. Describing a change means naming the store it comes from and the store it goes to. Saying energy is lost or made will lose marks even where the physics is understood.
Revision notes
The energy stores
Kinetic, gravitational potential, elastic potential, thermal, chemical, magnetic, electrostatic and nuclear.
Energy is stored in these ways, and a change in a system involves transfer between them. Learning the eight names precisely matters, because questions ask you to identify the store.
Ways energy is transferred
Mechanically, by a force doing work. Electrically, by a current doing work.
By heating, and by radiation such as light or sound. These four are the pathways; the stores are where the energy sits before and after.
Describing a change correctly
Always name the store energy comes from and the store it goes to.
A falling ball transfers energy from its gravitational potential store to its kinetic store. Saying the ball gains kinetic energy is weaker than naming both stores.
Key points
- Energy is stored in eight different ways.
- A system is an object or group of objects.
- Energy is transferred, not created or destroyed.
- Transfer pathways are mechanical, electrical, heating and radiation.
- Name both the starting and ending store.
- Energy is never used up.
Worked examples
Example 1
A ball is thrown vertically upwards. Describe the energy transfer as it rises. [2 marks]
Model answer
As the ball rises, energy is transferred from its kinetic energy store (1 mark) to its gravitational potential energy store (1 mark).
Example 2
Name four ways in which energy can be transferred. [4 marks]
Model answer
Mechanically, by a force doing work (1 mark). Electrically, by a current doing work (1 mark). By heating (1 mark). By radiation, such as light or sound (1 mark).
Example 3
A battery is connected to a lamp. Describe the energy transfers. [3 marks]
Model answer
Energy is transferred from the chemical energy store of the battery (1 mark) electrically to the lamp (1 mark), and then to the thermal energy store of the surroundings and by light radiation (1 mark).
Common mistakes
Saying energy is used up or lost.
Energy is transferred to a different store, often the thermal store of the surroundings. It is never destroyed.
Naming only one store.
A transfer needs both the store it comes from and the store it goes to.
Confusing a store with a pathway.
Kinetic is a store; heating is a pathway. Questions distinguish between them.
Saying a moving object has energy rather than a kinetic energy store.
Use the store language — it is what the specification requires.
Exam tips
- Learn all eight stores by name.
- Always describe transfers as from one store to another.
- Never write that energy is lost, used up or created.
- Keep stores and pathways clearly separate.
Key terms
- Energy store
- A way in which energy is held, such as kinetic or thermal.
- System
- An object or group of objects being considered.
- Transfer
- The movement of energy between stores.
- Dissipated
- Transferred to the surroundings and spread out.
Related topics
Written and reviewed against the current AQA, Edexcel and OCR specifications. Spotted an error? Let us know.