Conservation of energy diagram for a roller coaster ride.
Diagram showing the conservation of energy in a roller coaster, illustrating kinetic and potential energy at different points on the track.
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Conservation of Energy - Worksheet | Printable and Distance Learning
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Conservation of Energy - Worksheet | Printable and Distance Learning
Let’s go through each question one by one, step by step. We’re looking at a ball rolling on a curved track — like a roller coaster hill and valley. The key ideas here are gravitational potential energy (GPE) and kinetic energy (KE).
Remember:
- GPE is highest when the ball is highest up (because gravity can pull it down farther).
- KE is highest when the ball is moving fastest — which usually happens at the lowest point, because all that stored-up height energy turns into motion.
- Total mechanical energy (GPE + KE) stays the same if there’s no friction or air resistance — this is called conservation of energy.
---
Q1: Fill in the blanks using suitable words.
We have four statements to complete:
> ___ energy is stored energy an object has due to its position or state.
→ That’s potential energy. Specifically, gravitational potential energy for height.
> ___ energy is the energy an object has due to its motion.
→ That’s kinetic energy.
> According to the law of conservation of energy, total energy in a system ___.
→ It remains constant (or “is conserved”).
> Energy cannot be created or destroyed but can be ___.
→ It can be transformed (or “converted”) from one form to another.
✔ So answers for Q1:
a) Potential
b) Kinetic
c) remains constant
d) transformed
---
Now look at the diagram with points A, B, C, D, E.
The ball starts at A (high point), rolls down to B (lowest point), up to C (medium high), down to D (low again), then up to E (same height as C? Maybe slightly lower? But we’ll assume symmetric unless told otherwise).
Actually, looking closely: A is start, then dips to B, rises to C, dips to D, rises to E. And E seems to be same height as C? Or maybe not — but since no friction is mentioned, we assume energy is conserved, so if it started at A, it should reach same height again — but E looks a bit lower than A? Hmm. Actually, in many such diagrams, they show the ball losing some height over time if friction exists — BUT the problem says “respecting the effect of friction” — wait, let me check...
Wait — original text says:
“Following picture shows a ball moving from A to E. Respecting the effect of friction , use the following picture to answer Q2, Q3, Q4 and Q5.”
Oh! So friction IS present. That means energy is NOT perfectly conserved — some turns into heat/sound. So the ball won’t reach the same height again. So E will be lower than A, and probably C is lower than A too, etc.
But for questions Q2–Q4, we still compare relative heights and speeds based on positions.
---
Q2: In which position does the ball have the greatest gravitational potential energy?
GPE depends on height. Highest point = most GPE.
Looking at the path: A is the starting point — appears to be the highest. Then it goes down to B, up to C (but likely lower than A due to friction), down to D, up to E (even lower?).
So even with friction, A is still the highest point shown, so it has the most GPE.
Answer: a) A
---
Q3: In which position does the ball have the greatest kinetic energy?
KE is greatest when speed is greatest → which happens at the lowest point, because that’s where most GPE has been converted to KE.
Lowest point in the diagram is B.
Even with friction, B is still the bottom of the first drop — so yes, maximum speed there.
Answer: b) B
---
Q4: As the ball moves from point A to point B, the sum of gravitational potential and kinetic energies...
Total mechanical energy = GPE + KE.
If there were NO friction, total would stay the same.
But the problem says: “Respecting the effect of friction”
Friction causes energy loss — some mechanical energy turns into thermal energy (heat). So total mechanical energy decreases.
Therefore, as the ball moves from A to B, even though GPE turns into KE, some energy is lost to friction → so the SUM (GPE + KE) decreases.
Answer: a) decreases
---
Q5: The skateboarder in the picture below moves down the ramp.
Diagram shows a person on a skateboard going down a curved ramp from top to bottom.
Question: As the skateboarder moves down the ramp, his potential energy changes into ________.
At the top: high GPE, low KE (if starting from rest).
As he goes down: loses height → loses GPE; gains speed → gains KE.
So GPE is changing into KE.
Answer: a) kinetic energy
(Note: Some might think “mechanical energy”, but mechanical energy includes both — and actually, with friction, total mechanical energy decreases. But the question asks what potential energy changes *into* — directly, it becomes kinetic energy, though some also becomes heat. But among options, “kinetic energy” is best.)
Options given:
a) kinetic energy
b) light energy
c) electrical energy
d) light energy ← duplicate? Probably typo. Anyway, only sensible answer is a.
---
## Final Answers:
Q1:
a) Potential
b) Kinetic
c) remains constant
d) transformed
Q2: a) A
Q3: b) B
Q4: a) decreases
Q5: a) kinetic energy
──────────────────────────────────────
Final Answer:
Q1: a) Potential, b) Kinetic, c) remains constant, d) transformed
Q2: a) A
Q3: b) B
Q4: a) decreases
Q5: a) kinetic energy
Remember:
- GPE is highest when the ball is highest up (because gravity can pull it down farther).
- KE is highest when the ball is moving fastest — which usually happens at the lowest point, because all that stored-up height energy turns into motion.
- Total mechanical energy (GPE + KE) stays the same if there’s no friction or air resistance — this is called conservation of energy.
---
Q1: Fill in the blanks using suitable words.
We have four statements to complete:
> ___ energy is stored energy an object has due to its position or state.
→ That’s potential energy. Specifically, gravitational potential energy for height.
> ___ energy is the energy an object has due to its motion.
→ That’s kinetic energy.
> According to the law of conservation of energy, total energy in a system ___.
→ It remains constant (or “is conserved”).
> Energy cannot be created or destroyed but can be ___.
→ It can be transformed (or “converted”) from one form to another.
✔ So answers for Q1:
a) Potential
b) Kinetic
c) remains constant
d) transformed
---
Now look at the diagram with points A, B, C, D, E.
The ball starts at A (high point), rolls down to B (lowest point), up to C (medium high), down to D (low again), then up to E (same height as C? Maybe slightly lower? But we’ll assume symmetric unless told otherwise).
Actually, looking closely: A is start, then dips to B, rises to C, dips to D, rises to E. And E seems to be same height as C? Or maybe not — but since no friction is mentioned, we assume energy is conserved, so if it started at A, it should reach same height again — but E looks a bit lower than A? Hmm. Actually, in many such diagrams, they show the ball losing some height over time if friction exists — BUT the problem says “respecting the effect of friction” — wait, let me check...
Wait — original text says:
“Following picture shows a ball moving from A to E. Respecting the effect of friction , use the following picture to answer Q2, Q3, Q4 and Q5.”
Oh! So friction IS present. That means energy is NOT perfectly conserved — some turns into heat/sound. So the ball won’t reach the same height again. So E will be lower than A, and probably C is lower than A too, etc.
But for questions Q2–Q4, we still compare relative heights and speeds based on positions.
---
Q2: In which position does the ball have the greatest gravitational potential energy?
GPE depends on height. Highest point = most GPE.
Looking at the path: A is the starting point — appears to be the highest. Then it goes down to B, up to C (but likely lower than A due to friction), down to D, up to E (even lower?).
So even with friction, A is still the highest point shown, so it has the most GPE.
Answer: a) A
---
Q3: In which position does the ball have the greatest kinetic energy?
KE is greatest when speed is greatest → which happens at the lowest point, because that’s where most GPE has been converted to KE.
Lowest point in the diagram is B.
Even with friction, B is still the bottom of the first drop — so yes, maximum speed there.
Answer: b) B
---
Q4: As the ball moves from point A to point B, the sum of gravitational potential and kinetic energies...
Total mechanical energy = GPE + KE.
If there were NO friction, total would stay the same.
But the problem says: “Respecting the effect of friction”
Friction causes energy loss — some mechanical energy turns into thermal energy (heat). So total mechanical energy decreases.
Therefore, as the ball moves from A to B, even though GPE turns into KE, some energy is lost to friction → so the SUM (GPE + KE) decreases.
Answer: a) decreases
---
Q5: The skateboarder in the picture below moves down the ramp.
Diagram shows a person on a skateboard going down a curved ramp from top to bottom.
Question: As the skateboarder moves down the ramp, his potential energy changes into ________.
At the top: high GPE, low KE (if starting from rest).
As he goes down: loses height → loses GPE; gains speed → gains KE.
So GPE is changing into KE.
Answer: a) kinetic energy
(Note: Some might think “mechanical energy”, but mechanical energy includes both — and actually, with friction, total mechanical energy decreases. But the question asks what potential energy changes *into* — directly, it becomes kinetic energy, though some also becomes heat. But among options, “kinetic energy” is best.)
Options given:
a) kinetic energy
b) light energy
c) electrical energy
d) light energy ← duplicate? Probably typo. Anyway, only sensible answer is a.
---
## Final Answers:
Q1:
a) Potential
b) Kinetic
c) remains constant
d) transformed
Q2: a) A
Q3: b) B
Q4: a) decreases
Q5: a) kinetic energy
──────────────────────────────────────
Final Answer:
Q1: a) Potential, b) Kinetic, c) remains constant, d) transformed
Q2: a) A
Q3: b) B
Q4: a) decreases
Q5: a) kinetic energy
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of conservation of energy worksheet.
