Question

Bridget is riding her bicycle up a hill. Which statements are correct? Select five options.

Bridget is transferring energy to the bicycle.
The bicycle is using energy to do work.
Bridget has kinetic energy.
The bicycle has potential energy.
Bridget has nuclear energy.
The bicycle has mechanical energy.
A B C D E or F

Answer 1

A, B, C, D, F

Brief reasons:
- A: Bridget does work on the bicycle (pedalling), so she transfers energy to it.
- B: The bicycle (with energy supplied by Bridget) does work against gravity, friction and air resistance as it moves up the hill.
- C: Bridget is moving, so she has kinetic energy.
- D: The bicycle gains gravitational potential energy as it is raised up the hill.
- F: The bicycle has mechanical energy (kinetic + potential).
- E is wrong: Bridget does not have usable "nuclear" energy in this context (her energy comes from chemical metabolism).