If an object has 100 joules of potential energy (PE) at the top of a ramp, how much kinetic energy (KE) will there be at the other two locations indicated, half-way down the ramp and at the bottom the ramp?
Assuming the object starts with 100 joules of potential energy at the top of the ramp, the total energy (TE) of the object will remain constant throughout its motion according to the law of conservation of energy. This means that the total energy at any point on the ramp will be the sum of the potential energy and kinetic energy of the object.
At the halfway point down the ramp, the object will have some potential energy and some kinetic energy. Let's assume the object has x joules of potential energy at this point. Since the total energy is conserved, the kinetic energy at this point will be (100 - x) joules.
At the bottom of the ramp, all of the potential energy at the top will have been converted into kinetic energy since the object will have lost all of its height. This means that the kinetic energy at the bottom will be 100 joules.
In summary:
- Halfway down the ramp: PE = x joules, KE = 100 - x joules
- At the bottom of the ramp: PE = 0 joules, KE = 100 joules
Therefore, the kinetic energy at the halfway point will depend on the amount of potential energy remaining while at the bottom, all of the potential energy will have been converted into kinetic energy.