AP Physics Essentials: Kinetic and Potential Energy

Mr. Anderson explains kinetic and potential energy, using a wrecking ball and skateboarder simulation to illustrate energy conversion and conservation. He discusses internal energy in closed systems and the impact of friction, demonstrating how to calculate potential and kinetic energy.

What type of energy is associated with the motion of an object?

• Potential energy

• Kinetic energy

• Thermal energy

• Chemical energy

In a closed system, what happens to the total internal energy?

• It increases

• It remains constant

• It fluctuates randomly

• It decreases

What happens to the skateboarder's energy at the bottom of the ramp?

• It is half potential and half kinetic

• It is converted to thermal energy

• It is all potential energy

• It is all kinetic energy

How does increasing the coefficient of friction affect the skateboarder?

• It increases his speed

• It makes him fly off the ramp

• It decreases his speed

• It has no effect

What is the gravitational field strength used in the skateboarder example?

• 10.0 m/s²

• 7.8 m/s²

• 8.9 m/s²

• 9.8 m/s²

How much potential energy does the skateboarder have at the top of the ramp?

• 4800 joules

• 5900 joules

• 3400 joules

• 7500 joules

What is the speed of the skateboarder at the bottom of the ramp?

• 10 m/s

• 8 m/s

• 15 m/s

• 13 m/s

What is the equation used to calculate potential energy?

• PE = 1/2 mv²

• PE = mvh

• PE = mgh

• PE = mg²

What is the equation for kinetic energy?

• KE = mvh

• KE = 1/2 mv²

• KE = mgh

• KE = mg²

What happens to the skateboarder when all potential energy is converted to kinetic energy?

• He stops moving

• He reaches maximum speed

• He loses energy

• He gains height