Work Energy Power – CSEC Past Paper Question

1 i) State the principle of conservation of energy. (2 marks)

The conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed but transformed from
one type to another.

(ii) Define the term 'potential energy'. (1 mark)

Potential energy is stored energy of position possessed by an object.

(iii) Give ONE example of a body possessing potential energy. (1 mark)

An example of this can be a person pulling back a slingshot.

(iv) Define the term 'kinetic energy'. (1 mark)

Kinetic energy is the energy a body has due to its motion.

(v) Give ONE example of a body possessing kinetic energy ( 1 mark)

An example of this is a fast moving cricket ball. This is because of its high velocity.

(b) At a football match between two college teams, the referee ordered a free kick. The ball of mass

1.5 kg was placed at rest. The kick was about to be taken by an eager footballer.

What was the potential energy of the ball just before the kick was taken? (1 mark)

PE = mgh = 1.5kg x 10m s-2 x 0m = 0 J

(c) The footballer kicked the ball and it was caught by the opposing goalkeeper, 4 meters above the

ground. The ball was travelling at 10m/s

(i) Calculate the potential energy of the ball just before it was caught. (3 marks)

PE = mgh = 1.5kg x 10 m s-2 x 4m = 60 J

(ii) Calculate the kinetic energy of the ball just before it was caught. (3 marks)

KE = ½ mv2 = ½ x 1.5kg x 10m/s2 = ½ x 1.5kg x 100 m/s2 = ½ x 150 = 75 J

(iii) After the ball was caught, what was the kinetic energy converted into? (1 mark)

The ball was converted back to potential energy.

2. Does the fact that heat is lost when work is done against friction violate the law of

conservation of energy? Justify your answer. (3 marks)

I think that this does not violate the law of conservation. This is because the work done against friction
has kinetic energy which then transfers to heat energy. This transforming of energy is exactly what the
law of conversation of energy states hence it does not violate it.

(b) The three-week -long cycling race, the Tour de France, is said to be one of the most grueling sporting
events in the world.
(i) If a cyclist of mass 70 kg uses a bicycle of mass 7 kg, how much work must the cyclist do against
gravity in order to ascend on a hill to 2100 m from sea level (0 m)?

Work = PE = mgh

= 77kg x 10 m s -2 x 2100m

= 1,617,000 J or 1.617 x 10 6

(Acceleration due to gravity, g =10m s-2)