9. Rebecca climbs the ladder of a large water slide, waits her turn at the top, and then slides down the slide into a pool. Which answer best describes the energy changes during her time on the slide?(1 point)
Responses
kinetic → potential → kinetic
kinetic → potential → kinetic
potential → mechanical → kinetic
potential → mechanical → kinetic
kinetic → mechanical → potential
kinetic → mechanical → potential
potential → kinetic → potential
The best answer is: kinetic → potential → kinetic.
The correct answer is: potential → mechanical → kinetic
The correct answer is: potential → mechanical → kinetic
To understand why, let's break down the different types of energy involved:
1. Potential energy: When Rebecca is at the top of the water slide before sliding down, she has potential energy. This is because of her height above the ground, which gives her the potential to gain kinetic energy as she starts sliding.
2. Mechanical energy: As Rebecca starts sliding down the water slide, her potential energy is converted into mechanical energy. Mechanical energy refers to the energy of an object due to its motion or position. In this case, it is the combination of both potential and kinetic energy.
3. Kinetic energy: As Rebecca continues sliding down, her mechanical energy is gradually converted into kinetic energy. Kinetic energy is the energy of an object due to its motion. In this case, it is the energy Rebecca gains as she accelerates down the slide.
Therefore, the energy changes during Rebecca's time on the slide can be described as potential → mechanical → kinetic.