to begin a dive, a diver jumps into the air and then lands on the diving board, causing it to bend. what type of energy conversions occur as the board springs back & propels the diver up into the air?

The energy conversions that occur during this process involve potential energy, kinetic energy, and elastic potential energy.

1. Before the diver jumps, they have gravitational potential energy due to their height above the ground. When they jump off the ground, this potential energy is converted into kinetic energy as they gain speed while falling towards the diving board.

2. As the diver lands on the diving board, the kinetic energy is transferred to the board, causing it to bend or deform. At this point, the energy is primarily in the form of elastic potential energy stored in the flexed diving board.

3. When the diving board springs back, it releases the stored elastic potential energy. This energy is transformed back into kinetic energy, which is transferred to the diver, propelling them upwards into the air.

In summary, the energy conversions that occur during this process include the transformation of gravitational potential energy to kinetic energy, the transfer of kinetic energy to the diving board as elastic potential energy, and the subsequent release of elastic potential energy back into kinetic energy for the diver's upward motion.