Write the energy transformation equation for each situation
Fireworks explodes
An arrow is shot off a bow and flies through the air
A paved driveway feels hot on a clear ,sunny day
A camper raises an axe to chop a chunk of wood
A lawn mower with a gasoline engine cuts a lawn
1) Kinetic to Elastic to Gravitational
2) Radiant to Thermal
3) Kinetic to Gravitational
4) Chemical to Kinetic
What they are asking for are really not "equations" in the mathematial sense. The teacher should know that. What they probably want is an indication of the energy transformation process.
A fireworks explosion is a conversion of chemical energy to light, kinetic energyn and sound.
The heating of a paved driveway in sunlight is due to a conversion of solar light energy to heat energy and thermal motion in the driveway surface material.
See if you can figure out the others. The arrow one is easiest.
Answer please
Fireworks explodes: Chemical energy → Thermal energy + Light energy + Sound energy
An arrow is shot off a bow and flies through the air: Potential energy (stored in the bowstring) → Kinetic energy (in the arrow)
A paved driveway feels hot on a clear, sunny day: Solar energy (from the sun) → Thermal energy
A camper raises an axe to chop a chunk of wood: Potential energy (in the raised axe) → Kinetic energy (when the axe strikes the wood)
A lawn mower with a gasoline engine cuts a lawn: Chemical energy (from gasoline) + Mechanical energy (from the engine) → Kinetic energy (in the rotating blades) + Sound energy + Thermal energy (from engine heat)
To write the energy transformation equation for each situation, we need to consider the initial form of energy and how it transforms into other forms.
1. Fireworks explodes:
In this situation, the initial form of energy is chemical potential energy stored in the explosives. When the fireworks explode, the chemical energy is rapidly converted into thermal energy in the form of heat and light, sound energy, and kinetic energy of the expanding gases. The energy transformation equation can be written as:
Chemical Potential Energy → Thermal Energy + Sound Energy + Light Energy + Kinetic Energy
2. An arrow is shot off a bow and flies through the air:
Here, the initial form of energy is potential energy stored in the bowstring, which is transferred to the arrow. As the bowstring is released, the potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, initially of the arrow and eventually of the moving arrow in the air. The energy transformation equation can be written as:
Potential Energy → Kinetic Energy
3. A paved driveway feels hot on a clear, sunny day:
In this case, the initial form of energy is radiative energy from the sun. The sunlight is absorbed by the paved driveway, causing it to heat up. The energy transformation equation can be written as:
Radiative Energy (Sunlight) → Thermal Energy (Heat) in the driveway
4. A camper raises an axe to chop a chunk of wood:
The initial form of energy in this situation is the potential energy stored in the raised axe. As the camper brings the axe down to chop the wood, the potential energy is converted into kinetic energy of the axe, and then into potential energy of the axe when it is lifted back up again. The energy transformation equation can be written as:
Potential Energy → Kinetic Energy + Potential Energy
5. A lawn mower with a gasoline engine cuts a lawn:
For a lawn mower with a gasoline engine, the initial form of energy is the chemical potential energy stored in the fuel (gasoline) that is converted into mechanical energy. The engine uses the fuel to generate rotational motion, which is then transferred to the blades of the lawn mower, enabling them to cut the grass. The energy transformation equation can be written as:
Chemical Potential Energy (Gasoline) → Mechanical Energy (Rotational Motion of the Engine) → Mechanical Energy (Rotational Motion of Blades)