Potential and Kinetic Energy

A bicycle rider is traveling up a hill. When the rider reaches the top of the hill, she stops to rest. Then she travels down the hill. Which statement correctly describes the potential energy and the kinetic energy of the bicycle rider?

• As the rider moves up the hill, her kinetic energy increases, and her potential energy decreases.

• As the rider reaches the bottom of the hill, her kinetic energy and her potential energy decrease.

• When the rider is at the top of the hill, her potential energy is the greatest, and her kinetic energy is the least.

• When the rider goes down the hill, her potential energy increases, and her kinetic energy decreases.

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NGSS.MS-PS3-2

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

Conservation of energy means that

• energy can be created but not destroyed

• energy can be destroyed but not created

• energy can be both created and destroyed

• energy can be neither created nor destroyed

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NGSS.MS-PS3-5

Kinetic energy can be described as

• energy in motion

• stored energy

• a chemical reaction

• connected energy

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NGSS.HS-PS3-2

Which is the best example of an object with only potential energy?

• water being poured out of a pitcher

• a ball being thrown across a field

• a boulder resting on top of a cliff

• a boat sailing through the water

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NGSS.MS-PS3-2

As a boulder rolls from the top of a hill to the bottom, how does its potential and kinetic energy change?

• Potential and kinetic energy both increase.

• Potential energy increases and kinetic energy decreases.

• Potential energy decreases and kinetic energy increases.

• Potential and kinetic energy both increase.

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NGSS.MS-PS3-4

Students are investigating changes from potential to kinetic energy by rolling a marble down a ramp made by propping up a plastic ruler on a book and letting it roll down.

Which of the following will change the potential energy the marble starts with?

• Adding more books beneath the ruler to increase its height

• Pushing the marble down the ramp

• Switching the plastic ruler with a wooden one

• Replacing the marble with a rock

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NGSS.MS-PS3-2

A bicycle and passenger car are both moving at a velocity of 15 miles per hour. Which has more kinetic energy?

• the bicycle because it has less mass

• They are both moving at the same velocity, therefore they have equal kinetic energy.

• It is impossible to know as both are moving at the same velocity

• the car because it has more mass

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NGSS.MS-PS3-5

The illustration shows a roller coaster and indicates four different positions the car might be at as it moves along the track.

At which point in the roller coaster's journey is its potential energy the greatest?

• W

• X

• Y

• Z

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NGSS.MS-PS3-2

Which variables affect kinetic energy?

• pressure and volume

• velocity and mass

• weight and height

• temperature and weight

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NGSS.MS-PS3-1

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

Sammy studied kinetic and potential energy by observing apples on a tree during a field investigation. What type of energy do the apples on the tree have?

• elastic potential energy

• mechanical energy

• gravitational potential energy

• sound energy

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NGSS.MS-PS3-2