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 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. 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.

1 answer

The correct response to how the potential and kinetic energy change during the process 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 why this response is accurate:

  1. Potential Energy: Since the book remains on the flat table throughout the entire process, its gravitational potential energy remains constant. This is because potential energy in this context is determined by the height of the object above a reference point (the table surface), and that height does not change.

  2. Kinetic Energy: When the person gives the book a shove, its velocity increases, which means the kinetic energy of the book increases at that moment. As it slides across the table, it experiences friction (assuming the table is not perfectly smooth), which opposes the motion. This causes the kinetic energy to decrease until the book comes to rest.

Therefore, the potential energy stays the same while the kinetic energy increases when shoved and decreases as the book slides to a stop.