Question detail
What happens to the energy stores of an object when it is accelerated by a constant force?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
Question
Type
exam_style
Style
Topic
Energy changes in a system, and the ways energy is stored before and after such changes
Question
What happens to the energy stores of an object when it is accelerated by a constant force?
Answer
When an object is accelerated by a constant force, its kinetic energy store increases as work is done on the object. The energy transferred to the object from the force results in a rise in its speed, thereby increasing its kinetic energy.
Explanation
This question tests the understanding of energy transfer and changes in energy stores when a force acts on an object. It requires knowledge of how work done on an object affects its kinetic energy.
Common mistake
Confusing work done with energy stored
Students often think that the energy stored in an object increases simply because work is done on it, without considering the type of energy store and the system’s constraints.
Explain that work done by a constant force changes the energy store of the object (e.g., kinetic, potential, or elastic) only if the force acts over a displacement; the amount of energy transferred equals the work (force × distance) and is stored as a specific form of energy, not as a generic ‘energy increase’.
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