A swimmer jumps from a diving board into a pool. What would a graph of the swimmer's potential energy and total mechanical energy look like?

Question

Responses

Potential energy would remain constant, while total mechanical energy would decrease.

Potential energy would increase, while total mechanical energy would remain constant.

Potential energy would decrease, while total mechanical energy would remain constant.

Potential energy would remain constant, while total mechanical energy would increase.

Answer 1

The correct response is:

Potential energy would decrease, while total mechanical energy would remain constant.

Explanation:

• As the swimmer jumps off the diving board, their potential energy (PE) decreases as they fall towards the water, since potential energy is related to height.
• However, since the system is ideal (ignoring air resistance and other losses), the total mechanical energy (which is the sum of potential energy and kinetic energy) remains constant throughout the dive. As potential energy decreases, kinetic energy (KE) increases as the swimmer falls, maintaining the total mechanical energy constant.

Thus, the graph would show a decrease in potential energy as the swimmer descends, while the total mechanical energy would stay constant.