Question detail
In a practical investigation, what energy transfer occurs when a ball is dropped from a height?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
MCQ
Type
practice
Style
Topic
Energy changes in a system, and the ways energy is stored before and after such changes
Question
- A. Kinetic energy to thermal energy
- B. Gravitational potential energy to kinetic energy
- C. Kinetic energy to elastic potential energy
- D. Thermal energy to gravitational potential energy
Answer
Gravitational potential energy to kinetic energy
Explanation
When the ball is dropped, its gravitational potential energy is converted into kinetic energy as it falls.
Common mistake
Confusing gravitational potential energy with kinetic energy
Students often think that when an object falls, the energy it has is still gravitational potential energy rather than kinetic energy
Explain that as the object falls, gravitational potential energy is converted into kinetic energy; at the moment of impact the energy is predominantly kinetic, with potential energy reduced to zero
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