Kim is upstairs but walks downstairs to the kitchen for a snack which statement correctly describes the types of energy she has at the top of the stairs and a she walks down the stairs
At the top of the stairs, Kim has potential energy due to her height above the ground or reference point. As she walks down the stairs towards the kitchen, this potential energy gets converted into kinetic energy.
At the top of the stairs, Kim possesses potential energy due to her position in the gravitational field. As she walks down the stairs towards the kitchen, this potential energy is gradually converted into kinetic energy, which is the energy associated with her motion.
To determine the types of energy Kim has at the top of the stairs and as she walks down the stairs, we need to consider the different forms of energy that could be involved in this scenario.
1. Potential Energy: This is the energy an object possesses due to its position or height relative to other objects. As Kim is at the top of the stairs, she has potential energy, specifically gravitational potential energy, because she is higher above the ground. This potential energy is based on her mass, the acceleration due to gravity, and the height of the stairs.
2. Kinetic Energy: This is the energy an object possesses due to its motion. As Kim walks down the stairs, her potential energy is progressively converted into kinetic energy as she moves downward. This is because her height decreases, and her velocity increases, which indicates that her energy is transferring from potential to kinetic.
Therefore, at the top of the stairs, Kim has potential energy (gravitational potential energy) due to her position or height. As she walks down the stairs, she gradually converts this potential energy into kinetic energy, which represents her energy of motion.