What is the relationship between energy and motion in the context of IB MYP Science?

In the IB MYP Science curriculum, energy and motion are closely related concepts. Energy is the ability to do work or cause change, and motion is the change in position of an object over time. When an object moves, it possesses kinetic energy, which is the energy of motion. Understanding how energy is transferred and transformed during motion is a key aspect of studying Energy and Motion I.

How is kinetic energy calculated in the study of Energy and Motion I?

Kinetic energy in the context of Energy and Motion I is calculated using the formula KE = 1/2 mv^2, where KE represents kinetic energy, m is the mass of the object, and v is its velocity. This formula shows that kinetic energy is directly proportional to the mass of the object and the square of its velocity, emphasizing the impact of speed on energy.

What is the difference between potential energy and kinetic energy in Energy and Motion I?

In Energy and Motion I, potential energy and kinetic energy are two forms of mechanical energy. Potential energy is stored energy based on an object's position or state, such as gravitational potential energy when an object is elevated. Kinetic energy, on the other hand, is the energy of motion. An object at rest has potential energy, which can be converted into kinetic energy as it begins to move.

How does the law of conservation of energy apply to motion in the IB MYP curriculum?

The law of conservation of energy, a fundamental principle in the IB MYP Science curriculum, states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another. In the context of motion, this means that the total energy of a system remains constant. For example, as a roller coaster moves, its potential energy is converted to kinetic energy and vice versa, but the total energy remains unchanged.

What role does friction play in energy and motion studies in the IB MYP program?

Friction is a force that opposes motion, and it plays a significant role in energy and motion studies within the IB MYP program. It causes kinetic energy to be transformed into thermal energy, which can slow down or stop moving objects. Understanding friction is crucial for analyzing real-world scenarios where energy is lost due to heat, affecting the efficiency of motion.

Why is "Saying energy is 'used up' or destroyed by an appliance." a common mistake in Energy and Motion I?

Why it happens: We pay an energy bill, so it feels like energy is consumed. How to avoid it: Energy is transferred to a less useful store — usually thermal. Describe where the energy GOES, not that it vanishes.

Why is "Mixing up energy stores with transfer pathways." a common mistake in Energy and Motion I?

Why it happens: Both are about energy. How to avoid it: STORE is where energy 'lives' (kinetic, GPE, chemical, ...). PATHWAY is how it MOVES between stores (mechanically, electrically, by heating, by radiation).

Energy and MotionIB MYP Sciences (Years 1-5)

Energy and Motion I

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Energy and Motion I — IB MYP Sciences: energy stores, transfers and conservation

Every change in the universe involves energy moving from one store to another. This MYP Sciences spiral introduction covers the main energy stores, the four ways energy moves between them, and the rule that total energy is always conserved.

What you’ll learn

Mapped to the IB MYP Sciences subject guide (2026 onwards).

MYP Sciences A — Name the main energy stores and give an example of each.
MYP Sciences A — Identify which transfer pathway moves energy from one store to another in everyday examples.
MYP Sciences A — State the principle of conservation of energy.
MYP Sciences D — Identify where energy goes in everyday situations (a falling ball, a lit lamp, a moving car).

Energy stores

Energy is always 'somewhere' — in one of a handful of stores.

Energy is the ability to make things happen. Modern science talks about it as being in different stores:

Kinetic — anything that's moving.
Gravitational potential — anything raised in a gravitational field.
Elastic potential — stretched or compressed springs and bands.
Chemical — food, fuel, batteries.
Thermal (internal) — total energy of all the vibrating particles in a substance.
Nuclear — stored in atomic nuclei (released in fission and fusion).
Magnetic — between magnets or in coils.
Electrostatic — between charged objects.

Examples:

A skier at the top of a hill — gravitational potential.
A speeding car — kinetic.
A stretched bow — elastic potential.
A bowl of pasta — chemical.
A hot cup of tea — thermal.

Stores: kinetic, GPE, EPE, chemical, thermal, nuclear, magnetic, electrostatic.
Energy unit: joule (J).

Transfer pathways

Energy moves between stores in four main ways.

Energy moves between stores by FOUR transfer pathways:

Mechanically — a force moves through a distance (pushing, lifting, pulling).
Electrically — current flows in a circuit, transferring energy from a battery or supply to components.
By heating — energy moves from hot to cold by conduction, convection or radiation.
By radiation — light, infrared, microwaves, sound waves carry energy.

A familiar example: kettle boiling water.

Energy starts in CHEMICAL store of the power station's fuel.
Transferred ELECTRICALLY to your house.
Transferred ELECTRICALLY again into the kettle's heating element.
Transferred BY HEATING from the element to the water — increasing the water's THERMAL store.
Some heat also radiates from the kettle's surface — transferred BY RADIATION to the surroundings.

Energy moves between stores via transfer pathways. Example: chemical (food) → kinetic (cycling) → thermal (warmth in muscles and tyres).

Mechanically (force × distance).
Electrically (current).
By heating (temperature difference).
By radiation (waves carrying energy).

Conservation of energy

Energy cannot be created or destroyed — only transferred between stores.

Conservation of energy is one of the most important laws in science:

The total energy in a closed system stays the same. Energy is never created or destroyed — only transferred between stores.

When we say energy is 'wasted', we don't mean it's destroyed. It's transferred to a less useful store — usually thermal (heat dissipated to the surroundings).

A bouncing ball example:

At the top of its bounce: all GRAVITATIONAL POTENTIAL.
On the way down: GRAVITATIONAL POTENTIAL → KINETIC (speeding up).
At impact: KINETIC → momentarily ELASTIC POTENTIAL (squashed ball) and SOUND + THERMAL (warmth in the ball and floor).
Back up: ELASTIC POTENTIAL → KINETIC → GRAVITATIONAL POTENTIAL — but less than before, because some has gone to thermal/sound.

Eventually all the original gravitational potential ends up as thermal energy spread to the surroundings — the energy is still THERE, just in a much less useful form.

Total energy is constant in a closed system.
Wasted energy = energy in less useful stores (usually thermal).
Energy is conserved across every transfer.

How it’s examined

Criterion A tests identification of energy stores and transfer pathways in a given scenario. Criterion D asks you to evaluate where energy 'goes' and to challenge the everyday phrase 'energy lost'.

Sources: IB MYP Sciences guide (IBO, official subject guide). Last reviewed 2026-05-25.

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Step-by-step worked examples — Energy and Motion I

Step-by-step solutions to past-paper-style questions on energy and motion i, written exactly the way a tutor would explain them at the board.

1Naming the store
Getting started• energy stores
Question
Identify the main energy store in each: (a) a charged battery, (b) a ball at the top of a slide, (c) a moving cyclist.
Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1
  (a) Battery contains stored chemical energy — chemical store.
2. Step 2
  (b) Raised ball has gravitational potential energy — GPE store.
3. Step 3
  (c) Moving cyclist has kinetic energy — kinetic store.
Answer
(a) chemical, (b) gravitational potential, (c) kinetic.
2Identifying the transfer pathway
Getting started• transfers
Question
Identify the main transfer pathway in each: (a) a hand pushing a toy car, (b) a kettle warming water, (c) the Sun warming a sunbather.
Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1
  (a) Force moves through distance — mechanically.
2. Step 2
  (b) Heating element passes energy to water by temperature difference — by heating.
3. Step 3
  (c) Energy travels through the vacuum of space — by radiation.
Answer
(a) mechanically, (b) by heating, (c) by radiation.
3Where does the energy go?
Stretch• conservation
Question
A ball bounces several times and then stops. Has the energy been destroyed? Where has it gone?
Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1
  Energy is never destroyed (conservation of energy).
2. Step 2
  At each bounce, some kinetic energy is transferred to heat (warming the ball and floor) and to sound.
3. Step 3
  After many bounces, all the original gravitational PE has been transferred to thermal energy in the ball, floor and air — and to sound that also ends up as thermal energy in the surroundings.
Answer
Not destroyed — transferred to thermal energy in the ball, floor and air (and a little to sound, which also ends up thermal).

Key Definitions and Keywords — Energy and Motion I

Definitions to memorise and the exact keywords mark schemes credit for energy and motion i answers — sharpened from recent examiner reports for the 2026 IB MYP Sciences sitting.

Energy
Examiner keyword
The ability to make things happen. Unit: joule (J).
Energy store
Examiner keyword
A category that energy can be 'in' — e.g. kinetic, gravitational, chemical, thermal, etc.
Transfer pathway
Examiner keyword
A way that energy moves from one store to another: mechanically, electrically, by heating or by radiation.
Conservation of energy
Examiner keyword
Energy cannot be created or destroyed — only transferred between stores. The total energy is constant.
Wasted energy
Energy that ends up in a less useful store — usually thermal energy spread to surroundings.

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions — Energy and Motion I

The traps other students keep falling into on energy and motion i questions — taken from recent IB MYP Sciences examiner reports and mark schemes — and how to avoid them.

✕Saying energy is 'used up' or destroyed by an appliance.
Why it happens
We pay an energy bill, so it feels like energy is consumed.
How to avoid it
Energy is transferred to a less useful store — usually thermal. Describe where the energy GOES, not that it vanishes.
✕Mixing up energy stores with transfer pathways.
Why it happens
Both are about energy.
How to avoid it
STORE is where energy 'lives' (kinetic, GPE, chemical, ...). PATHWAY is how it MOVES between stores (mechanically, electrically, by heating, by radiation).

Practice questions

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Past paper style quiz

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Energy and Motion I — frequently asked questions

The things students keep getting wrong in this sub-topic, answered.

Energy and Motion I

Short Study Notes in the form of Slides

Short Study Notes — Energy and Motion I

Detailed Notes

What you’ll learn

How it’s examined

1Naming the store

2Identifying the transfer pathway

3Where does the energy go?

Energy

Energy store

Transfer pathway

Conservation of energy

Wasted energy

✕Saying energy is 'used up' or destroyed by an appliance.

✕Mixing up energy stores with transfer pathways.

Practice questions

Past paper style quiz

Assess your understanding

Energy and Motion I — frequently asked questions