Describe how energy changes forms as a skateboarder goes from the top of a U shaped ramp to the other side at the top. Why don't they continue moving forever? (Please don't write an essay)
As a skateboarder goes from the top of a U-shaped ramp to the other side at the top, the energy changes forms. Initially, at the highest point of the ramp, the skateboarder has potential energy due to their height above the ground. As they start moving down the ramp, this potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, the energy of motion.
As the skateboarder descends the ramp, the potential energy decreases while the kinetic energy increases. At the bottom of the ramp, the skateboarder has minimal potential energy and maximum kinetic energy as they are moving at their fastest speed.
However, as the skateboarder starts going up the other side of the ramp, their kinetic energy begins to decrease. This is because as they move upward, they are gradually losing their speed. As kinetic energy decreases, it is converted back into potential energy.
At the very top of the ramp, the skateboarder momentarily has maximum potential energy again, similar to the initial state. However, this potential energy is not as high as at the start due to energy losses, such as friction and air resistance.
The reason the skateboarder doesn't continue moving forever is due to the presence of various forms of energy loss. These energy losses occur due to factors such as friction from the skateboard's wheels on the ramp and air resistance acting against the skateboarder's motion.
Friction between the wheels and the ramp leads to thermal energy, resulting in the skateboard losing energy in the form of heat. Additionally, the air resistance acting against the skateboarder's motion, especially at higher speeds, leads to energy being dissipated as heat as well.
These energy losses gradually reduce the skateboarder's kinetic energy, depleting their ability to continue moving. Eventually, all the kinetic energy is converted into thermal energy, dissipating into the surroundings and bringing the skateboarder to a stop.