Question

This image of a roller coaster is designed to show important information about potential and kinetic energy. One of these pieces of information is incorrect. Which information is wrong, and why?

a
The spot marked “maximum gravitational potential energy” should be on the lowest point of the roller coaster, at the far left side on the bottom.
b
The roller coaster would only have potential energy at the point labeled “gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy.”
c
The spot with the “maximum kinetic energy” should be on the lowest point of the roller coaster, at the far left side on the bottom.
d
The roller coaster would only have kinetic energy at the point labeled “gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy.”
Question 17
Use the table of information from an investigation to answer the question.

Student Depth of Object in Sand (cm)
Maddie 1.8
Naveed 4.0
Two students drop an object into sand from a height of 1.5 meters. They record the depth of the hole made in the sand by each student’s object. What is the most likely explanation for the results?

a
Naveed's object had less mass
b
Naveed's object had greater kinetic energy
c
Maddie's object had a faster drop speed
d
Maddie's object had a smaller width
Question 18
Potential energy depends on mass, gravitational pull, and ___________________ of an object.

a
height
b
force
c
velocity
d
acceleration
Question 19
Which falling object will result in the least kinetic energy when it collides with the ground?
a
10 grams of water falling at 1 m/s
b
100 grams of dirt falling at 15 m/s
c
100 grams of water falling at 10 m/s
d
10 grams of dirt falling at 2 m/s
Question 20
A student wants to determine the effect of mass on kinetic energy. She will drop two balls of the same size into a pool of water.

Which investigation method should the student use?

a
She should drop two balls with different masses from the same height.
b
She should drop two balls of the same mass from different heights.
c
She should drop two balls of the same mass from the same height.
d
She should drop two balls with different masses from different heights.
Question 21
Gravity is a(n) ____________________ force.

a
attractive
b
negligible
c
imaginary
d
downward
Question 22
A diagram is drawn showing a swing set with a swing pulled backward prior to release. The diagram shows how the swing will move forward and then backward after it is initially released. At which point in the diagram is all of the energy gravitational potential energy?





a
Just after the swing is released
b
when the swing is pulled back prior to release
c
at the highest point as the swing is moving forward
d
as the released swing begins moving backward
Question 23
Four rivers have the same volume of water flow over time but fall from different heights to power hydroelectric dams. Which dam would provide the most hydroelectric power?

a
dam B: fall height of 75 feet
b
dam C: fall height of 135 feet
c
dam D: fall height of 100 feet
d
dam A: fall height of 175 feet
Question 24
The total amount of __________________ is the _______________ before and after any energy transformation.

a
energy, same
b
velocity, same
c
velocity, different
d
energy, different
Question 25
A person throws a ball up into the air. At which point in its path will the ball have the greatest potential energy?

a
when the ball hits the ground
b
when the ball reaches its highest point
c
when the ball leaves the persons hand
d
when the ball is still rising
Question 26
At which location does the roller-coaster have the greatest amount of kinetic energy?



a
A
b
B
c
C
d
D
Question 27
You are on roller blades on top of a small hill. Your potential energy is equal to 1,000.0 joules. Your mass is 60.0 kilograms. What is the height of the hill?



a
170.0 m
b
1.7 m
c
17.0 m
d
0.17 m
Question 28
Juliet wants to significantly increase the amount of kinetic energy of her bowling ball in order to increase her chances of getting a strike. Which of the following would increase the ball's kinetic energy the most?

a
increasing the speed at which she throws the ball
b
changing to a ball with more mass
c
she cannot increase the kinetic energy
d
decreasing the speed at which she throws the ball

Answer 1

Here are the answers with brief explanations:

Q1. Which information is wrong, and why?
a — This is wrong. Maximum gravitational potential energy occurs at the highest point, not the lowest. (GPE = mgh, so greater height → greater GPE.)

Q17.
b — Naveed's object had greater kinetic energy. (It made a deeper hole, indicating more impact energy.)

Q18.
a — height. (GPE = mgh depends on mass, gravity, and height.)

Q19.
a — 10 grams of water at 1 m/s. (Compute KE = 1/2 m v^2; this one gives the smallest value.)

Q20.
a — Drop two balls with different masses from the same height. (Same height → same speed on impact, so differences in KE come from mass.)

Q21.
a — attractive. (Gravity is an attractive force between masses.)

Q22.
b — when the swing is pulled back prior to release. (At the highest, momentarily at rest position, energy is all gravitational potential.)

Q23.
d — dam A: fall height of 175 feet. (Power ∝ flow × height; largest height gives the most power.)

Q24.
a — energy, same. (Total energy is conserved — the same before and after transformations.)

Q25.
b — when the ball reaches its highest point. (Greatest height → greatest potential energy.)

Q26.
c — C. (The coaster has greatest kinetic energy at the lowest point — choose the label that marks the bottom, C.)

Q27.
b — 1.7 m. (Use PE = mgh → h = PE/(mg) = 1000 / (60×9.8) ≈ 1.7 m.)

Q28.
a — increasing the speed at which she throws the ball. (KE ∝ v^2, so increasing speed increases KE more strongly than increasing mass.)