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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 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 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 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. Skip to navigation

1 answer

The most accurate response regarding the changes in potential and kinetic energy during the process described 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.

Here’s the reasoning:

  1. Potential Energy: The potential energy of the book remains constant throughout the process as long as it stays on the flat table. The height of the book is not changing significantly (assuming the table is flat), so its gravitational potential energy remains the same.

  2. Kinetic Energy: The kinetic energy of the book increases when the person pushes it (the shove adds energy to the book), leading to an increase in its velocity. As the book slides across the table, it eventually experiences friction (or air resistance) that slows it down, decreasing its kinetic energy until it comes to rest.

So, the correct understanding of energy changes in this scenario involves the stability of potential energy and the increase and subsequent decrease of kinetic energy as the book moves.