Describe the energy changes in this system (Water reservoir to hose pipe)

In summary, as the water travels from the reservoir to the ground, there is a conversion of energy from gravitational potential to kinetic. This is due to the force of gravity pulling the water down as it flows through the pipes and out of the hose. Neglecting viscous drag, the energy changes can be described as gravitation potential energy at the reservoir and kinetic energy of the stream at the ground.
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Homework Statement


Describe the energy changes that occur in the system shown below (The picture shows a water reservoir at the top of the diagram and then some pipes that leads to a hose and you can see the water coming out of the hose in an arc and hitting the ground.) as the water travels from the reservoir until it hits the ground.


Homework Equations



The options are: Gravitational Potential, Strain Potential, Kinetic Energy, thermal energy and sound. Each option can be used once, more than once, or not at all.

The Attempt at a Solution



So my chain goes like this:

Gravitational Potential of water in the reservoir --> Strain Potential of water in the pipes --> Kinetic Energy as water flows due to the hose being turned on --> Gravitational Potential as the water it shot upwards --> Kinetic energy as it falls back to the ground --> sound as it hits the ground ?

Bit of a weird question but there's no mark scheme for it so I can't check my answer.
 
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  • #2
Neglecting viscous drag, the correct answer is gravitation potential energy at reservoir --> kinetic energy of stream at ground.
 

1. What is the purpose of describing energy changes in this system?

Describing energy changes in a system allows us to understand how energy is transferred and transformed within that system. This knowledge is crucial in understanding the behavior and functioning of the system.

2. What is the initial energy state of the water in the reservoir?

The initial energy state of the water in the reservoir is potential energy due to its position above the ground. This potential energy is a result of the water's mass and its height above the ground.

3. How is the potential energy of the water converted into kinetic energy as it flows through the hose pipe?

As the water flows through the hose pipe, the potential energy is converted into kinetic energy due to the force of gravity acting on the water. This results in the water gaining speed and moving through the hose pipe with greater momentum.

4. Are there any other energy changes that occur in this system?

Yes, there may be other energy changes occurring in this system, such as thermal energy being transferred from the surrounding environment to the water, or frictional energy being generated as the water flows through the hose pipe.

5. How can we calculate the total energy changes in this system?

To calculate the total energy changes in this system, we can use the law of conservation of energy, which states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred or transformed. This means that the sum of all the energy changes in the system should equal the initial energy state of the water in the reservoir.

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