A Student jumps off a diving board that is 6.7 meters above the ground. As a student falls down what happens to the Potential energy, Kinetic energy, and the Total Mechanical energy.
To understand what happens to the potential energy, kinetic energy, and total mechanical energy as the student falls, we need to consider the conversion of energy from one form to another.
1. Potential Energy: In this scenario, as the student jumps off the diving board, they possess gravitational potential energy due to their height above the ground. Potential energy is given by the equation PE = mgh, where m is the mass, g is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s^2 on Earth), and h is the height. As the student falls, the height decreases, leading to a decrease in potential energy.
2. Kinetic Energy: As the student falls, gravitational potential energy is converted into kinetic energy. Kinetic energy is given by the equation KE = (1/2)mv^2, where m is the mass and v is the velocity. Initially, when the student jumps off the diving board, they have zero velocity and therefore zero kinetic energy. However, as they start falling, their velocity increases due to the acceleration due to gravity. Consequently, their kinetic energy also increases.
3. Total Mechanical Energy: Total mechanical energy is the sum of potential energy and kinetic energy. According to the law of conservation of energy, mechanical energy remains constant in the absence of external forces. Therefore, the total mechanical energy of the student remains constant throughout the fall, neglecting any energy losses due to factors like air resistance or friction.
In summary, as the student falls, their potential energy decreases due to the decrease in height. At the same time, their kinetic energy increases because the potential energy is being converted into kinetic energy. However, the total mechanical energy of the student remains constant.