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A book is at rest on a flat table. A person gives the book a shove and it slides across the table. The book eventually comes to rest again near the edge of the table. How does the potential and kinetic energy change during this process?(1 point) Responses The potential stays the same since the book is on the table. The kinetic energy stays the same since the book was only shoved. The potential stays the same since the book is on the table. The kinetic energy stays the same since the book was only shoved. The potential and kinetic energy are the same while the book is sitting on the table. They both increase when the book is shoved and then decrease as the book comes to rest again. The potential and kinetic energy are the same while the book is sitting on the table. They both increase when the book is shoved and then decrease as the book comes to rest again. The potential energy will stay the same as long as the book stays on the table. The kinetic energy increases when the book is shoved and then gradually decreases as it slides across the table and then comes to rest on the edge. The potential energy will stay the same as long as the book stays on the table. The kinetic energy increases when the book is shoved and then gradually decreases as it slides across the table and then comes to rest on the edge. The potential energy increases as the book is pushed across the table. The kinetic energy stays the same since the book was shoved. The potential energy increases as the book is pushed across the table. The kinetic energy stays the same since the book was shoved.

1 answer

The correct understanding of how potential and kinetic energy change during the process described would be as follows:

  1. Potential Energy (PE): The potential energy of the book remains constant while it is on the table, as long as its height relative to a reference point does not change. In this case, since the book stays on the table throughout the process, the potential energy stays the same.

  2. Kinetic Energy (KE): When the person shoves the book, its kinetic energy increases as it gains speed. As the book slides across the table, it gradually loses kinetic energy due to friction until it eventually comes to rest. Therefore, the kinetic energy decreases until it reaches zero when the book stops moving.

Taking this into account, the most accurate response is:

"The potential energy will stay the same as long as the book stays on the table. The kinetic energy increases when the book is shoved and then gradually decreases as it slides across the table and then comes to rest on the edge."