Conservation of energy

● Analyze real physical situations to define the concept and the law of conservation of
mechanical energy.

1. Mechanical energy is not conserved when:

a) gravitational potential energy is converted to kinetic energy.
b) kinetic energy is converted to gravitational potential energy.
c) kinetic energy is converted to elastic potential energy.
d) friction is not negligible.

2. An egg suspended above the ground has 2.0 J of gravitational potential energy. The egg is then
dropped and falls to the ground. What is the kinetic energy of the egg just as it reaches the ground?
a) −2 J
b) 0 J
c) 2 J
d) 4 J

3. A tennis ball is thrown up into the air starting from a height of 1.5 m. The ball reaches a peak height,
then falls down to the ground. Assuming air resistance is negligible, describe the energy transfers that
take place during the flight of the ball. Is mechanical energy conserved in this situation?

4. You are designing a roller coaster in which a car will be pulled to the top of a hill of height "ℎ" and
then, starting from a momentary rest, will be released to roll freely down the hill and toward the peak
of the next hill, which is 1. 1 times as high. Will your design be successful? Explain your answer.

5. The largest watermelon ever grown had a mass of 118 kg. Suppose this watermelon were exhibited
on a platform 5 m above the ground. After the exhibition, the watermelon is allowed to slide along to
the ground along a smooth ramp. How high above the ground is the watermelon at the moment its
kinetic energy is 4. 6 𝑘𝐽?

HWK

6. Suppose a motorcyclist rides a certain high-speed motorcycle. He reaches top speed and then
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coasts up a hill. The maximum height reached by the motorcyclist is 250 𝑚. If 2. 55 × 10 𝐽 of kinetic
energy is dissipated by friction, what was the initial speed of the motorcycle? The combined mass of
the motorcycle and motorcyclist is 250 𝑘𝑔. Express your answer in 𝑚/𝑠 and 𝑘𝑚/ℎ.