Kinetic and Potential Energy Quiz

Charlotte is observing different objects and wants to know which one best demonstrates kinetic energy. Which of the following should she choose?

• car battery

• dog playing with ball

• sleeping child

• A parked car

Arjun and Lily are observing a pendulum that swings with an initial energy of 50 Joules in a closed system where friction is NOT present. What percentage of its starting energy should be converted from potential energy to kinetic energy when the pendulum drops from its highest point on either side?

• 25%

• 50%

• 75%

• 100%

Abigail is setting up her kitchen and wants to buy an appliance that primarily converts electrical energy into thermal energy for cooking. Which of the following should she choose?

• Dishwasher

• Stove

• Cell Phone

What is the main energy conversion occurring in a coal-fired power station?

• Chemical energy is converted into thermal energy.

• Thermal energy is converted into mechanical energy.

• Electrical energy is converted into chemical energy.

• Light energy is converted into thermal energy.

Emma was curious about how glow sticks work. She learned that when you bend a glow stick, a small chamber inside breaks, releasing a substance that reacts with other substances inside the glow stick. The reaction that takes place causes the glow stick to glow. What is the primary energy transformation that occurs when a glow stick is lit?

• heat energy --> light energy

• chemical energy --> light energy

• mechanical energy --> light energy

• electrical energy --> light energy

Aria and Grace are playing on a swing set. After a while, they stop pushing each other. Which of these statements best explains why the swing becomes motionless once there is no longer a push or pull?

• With each swing, the kinetic energy is transformed into heat energy due to friction, stopping the swing.

• With each swing, the elastic potential energy is transformed into kinetic energy, stopping the swing.

• With each swing, chemical energy in the swing is used up, stopping the swing.

• With each swing, the force of gravity becomes stronger, stopping the swing.

What is the primary reason a rolling ball eventually comes to a stop?

• Energy is transferred to the ground in the form of potential energy.

• Energy is transferred to the air in the form of sound energy.

• Energy is transferred to the ball in the form of kinetic energy.

• Energy is transferred to the ground in the form of thermal energy.

Kito puts his spoon into a bowl of fresh, hot mashed potatoes as shown in the figure below.

Which process takes place when the two objects come together?

• The heat of the spoon increases, but its thermal energy does not change.

• Thermal energy is transferred in the form of heat from the warmer mashed potatoes to the cooler spoon.

• Thermal energy is transferred, but heat is not responsible because the average temperature does not change.

• The thermal energy of both the mashed potatoes and the spoon increases as energy in the form of heat is transferred between them.

A researcher is using a large, insulated container with a barrier separating two chambers. One chamber is filled with a hot gas and the other is filled with a cold gas. If the barrier between the chambers is removed, eventually the temperature will equalize. Which statement best describes the event that causes this to occur?

• The hot gas particles are moving faster and transfer thermal energy to the cold gas particles.

• The cold gas particles are moving faster and lose thermal energy to the hot gas particles.

• The chamber for the cold gas attracts hot gas particles.

• The chamber for the hot gas attracts cold particles.