Potential vs. Kinetic Energy

[Hannah1]

Homework Statement

A San Francisco cable car loses its brakes and runs down a hill 30 m high. Assuming there is no friction, which of the following represents the energy changes that occurred?

a. potential energy to kinetic energy
b. kinetic energy to potential energy
c. potential energy to heat energy to kinetic energy

Homework Equations

Potential Energy - The energy possessed by a body by virtue of its position relative to others, stresses within itself, electric charge, and other factors.
Kinetic Energy - Energy that a body possesses by virtue of being in motion.

The Attempt at a Solution

a. potential energy to kinetic energy


Is the correct answer a.?

 

[PhanthomJay]

Given the choices, why do you say 'a' is correct? Please explain.

 

[Hannah1]

Given the choices, why do you say 'a' is correct? Please explain.

At the top of the hill, while the car is parked, it has potential energy. While the car is going down the hill it has kinetic energy because it is in motion. I don't think heat energy was produced because there was no friction. So that's why I picked a.

 

[hms.tech]

That is right ! :)

 

[Nickie]

Yes, the correct answer is a. potential energy to kinetic energy. This is because as the cable car moves down the hill, it is losing potential energy due to its position on the hill, and gaining kinetic energy as it gains speed and motion. This is a transfer of energy from one form to another, and no other forms of energy are involved in this scenario (such as heat energy). This is a simple example of the conservation of energy, where the total amount of energy remains constant but can change forms.