Mechanical Energy online exercise for - Free Printable

Let's solve the problem by classifying each image based on the type of mechanical energy it represents: Kinetic Energy, Gravitational Potential Energy, or Elastic Potential Energy.

---

🔹 Definitions:

- Kinetic Energy (KE): Energy of motion. An object has kinetic energy when it is moving.
- Gravitational Potential Energy (GPE): Energy stored due to an object’s height above the ground. It depends on mass, gravity, and height.
- Elastic Potential Energy (EPE): Energy stored in elastic materials when they are stretched or compressed (like springs or rubber bands).

---

Now let’s analyze each image one by one:

---

1. Running girl

- ✔ She is moving.
- ➡️ Kinetic Energy

---

2. Car on a hill

- The car is at the top of a hill, so it has height.
- Even if it's not moving, its position gives it stored energy due to gravity.
- ➡️ Gravitational Potential Energy

---

3. Person lifting weights

- The person is holding the barbell above their head, so it's at a height.
- The weight has gravitational potential energy due to its elevated position.
- ➡️ Gravitational Potential Energy

---

4. Two people riding bicycles

- They are in motion, pedaling bikes.
- ➡️ Kinetic Energy

---

5. Child at the top of a slide

- The child is at the top of a slide, ready to go down.
- This means the child has height, so energy is stored due to gravity.
- ➡️ Gravitational Potential Energy

---

6. Hands stretching a rubber band

- The rubber band is stretched, which stores energy in its elastic material.
- ➡️ Elastic Potential Energy

---

7. Cup on a table

- The cup is stationary and at a certain height above the ground.
- It has gravitational potential energy because of its height.
- ➡️ Gravitational Potential Energy

---

8. Person pushing a ball with a stick (e.g., golf)

- The ball is about to be hit — it's not yet moving, but the person is applying force.
- However, the ball itself is stationary, so no kinetic energy yet.
- But the motion is imminent, but we classify based on what’s shown.
- Since the ball is not moving, and there's no stretch/compression, this is not kinetic or elastic.
- But wait — actually, the person is doing work, but the ball has no motion and no height change.
- So the ball has no kinetic energy and no gravitational potential energy unless it's raised.
- However, since it's on the ground and not moving, the energy here isn't being stored in the ball.
- But the intended action is movement.
- Still, based on the current state: the ball is stationary, so:
- ➡️ No significant mechanical energy? But that's not among the options.
- Wait — perhaps the stick is in contact, but still, the ball is not moving.
- So likely, the best answer is: No kinetic energy, and no potential energy unless it's elevated.
- But the ball is on the ground → zero GPE.
- So maybe this is a trick?
- Actually, this is likely intended to represent kinetic energy, because the action is about to happen, but the image shows the ball just before motion.
- However, since the ball is not moving, it does not have kinetic energy.
- But the person is exerting force, but that’s not stored in the ball.
- So this might be misclassified, but commonly, such scenes are interpreted as kinetic energy after the push.
- But the image shows pre-motion.
- Let's reconsider: if the ball is just starting to move, then it has kinetic energy.
- But from the illustration, the ball appears stationary, and the stick is touching it.
- So probably: Not enough information, but in most educational contexts, this is seen as kinetic energy because of the impending motion.
- However, strictly speaking, if it's not moving, it's not kinetic.
- But let's assume the ball is about to move, so kinetic energy is being transferred.
- But for classification purposes, we classify based on current state.

Wait — the image shows a golf-like swing, and the ball is just being struck. So it's starting to move → has kinetic energy.

✔ Yes — even if small, it's in motion after the strike.

➡️ Kinetic Energy

---

9. Compressed spring between hands

- The spring is compressed — stored energy due to deformation.
- ➡️ Elastic Potential Energy

---

10. Archery – bow drawn

- The bowstring is stretched, storing energy.
- This is a classic example of elastic potential energy.
- ➡️ Elastic Potential Energy

---

✔ Final Classification:

| Image | Description | Type of Energy |
|------|-------------|----------------|
| 1 | Running girl | Kinetic Energy |
| 2 | Car on hill | Gravitational Potential Energy |
| 3 | Lifting weights | Gravitational Potential Energy |
| 4 | Bicycles | Kinetic Energy |
| 5 | Child at top of slide | Gravitational Potential Energy |
| 6 | Stretching rubber band | Elastic Potential Energy |
| 7 | Cup on table | Gravitational Potential Energy |
| 8 | Pushing a ball | Kinetic Energy |
| 9 | Compressed spring | Elastic Potential Energy |
| 10 | Drawn bow | Elastic Potential Energy |

---

🟩 Summary:

- Kinetic Energy: Images 1, 4, 8
- Gravitational Potential Energy: Images 2, 3, 5, 7
- Elastic Potential Energy: Images 6, 9, 10

---

✔ Answer Key:

1. Kinetic Energy
2. Gravitational Potential Energy
3. Gravitational Potential Energy
4. Kinetic Energy
5. Gravitational Potential Energy
6. Elastic Potential Energy
7. Gravitational Potential Energy
8. Kinetic Energy
9. Elastic Potential Energy
10. Elastic Potential Energy

Let me know if you'd like this formatted as a printable worksheet!