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?

Question

A. The potential energy increases as the book is pushed across the table. The kinetic energy stays the same since the book was shoved.
B. 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
C. The potential stays the same since the book is on the table. The kinetic energy stays the same since the book was only shoved.
D. 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.

Answer 1

The correct option is:

D. 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.

Here's a breakdown of why this is correct:

• Potential Energy: The potential energy of the book does not change as long as it remains on the table. Since the height of the book above the ground does not change significantly before it slides off the edge, its gravitational potential energy remains constant.

• Kinetic Energy: When the person shoves the book, they impart energy to it, increasing its kinetic energy as it begins to move. As the book slides across the table, friction acts on it, doing work against its motion. This frictional force dissipates the kinetic energy as thermal energy, causing the kinetic energy to decrease until the book comes to rest again at the edge of the table.

Thus, in this scenario, you correctly observe that potential energy remains constant while kinetic energy increases during the shove and then decreases to zero as the book comes to rest.

Answer 2

are you sure this is correct

Answer 3

Yes, I am sure that the explanation provided in option D is correct in the context of the scenario described.

1. Potential Energy: While the book is sitting on the table, its gravitational potential energy remains constant as long as it stays at the same height relative to the ground. Even when it slides across the table, as long as it's not falling off, the height doesn't change, meaning the potential energy related to gravity remains unchanged.

2. Kinetic Energy: The kinetic energy of the book increases when it is shoved because work is done on it by the person during the shove, converting some of the energy from the person into kinetic energy. As the book slides, friction from the table acts against its motion, doing work that reduces its kinetic energy, eventually bringing the book to rest.

Therefore, option D accurately describes the changes in potential and kinetic energy during the process. If you have more specific considerations or alternative interpretations in mind, please share them, and I would be glad to discuss further!