If you are at an amusement park and you ride a slingshot, how does your potential energy compare to your kinetic energy at the top of the shot?

Question

The kinetic energy is twice the amount of potential energy.
The kinetic energy is twice the amount of potential energy.

The kinetic energy and potential energy are the same.
The kinetic energy and potential energy are the same.

Kinetic energy is greater than potential energy.
Kinetic energy is greater than potential energy.

The kinetic energy is less than potential energy.

Answer 1

At the top of the slingshot shot, the potential energy (PE) and kinetic energy (KE) can be analyzed based on the principles of energy conservation.

1. When the slingshot is at its highest point (the top of the shot), the speed of the rider is momentarily at its minimum (potentially zero if we're considering the peak of the motion), so the kinetic energy would also be at its minimum.

2. At this point, the potential energy is at its maximum since it is at the highest elevation.

Thus, at the top of the shot, the potential energy is greater than the kinetic energy, and specifically, the kinetic energy is less than the potential energy.

Therefore, the correct answer is: The kinetic energy is less than potential energy.