Question

Four students were asked to classify the activities of the people in the picture below as examples of either potential or kinetic energy.
Which student correctly classified the activities? Hurry!!!!!!!!!

Answer 1

Hi there!

$\large\boxed{\text{The first choice.}}$

Kinetic Energy (1/2 · mass · velocity²) occurs when an object is in motion, or a force is occurring on the object. An example would be a car in motion.

Potential energy (mass · height · gravity ) is obtained when an object has the ability to do work. An example would be an object on a shelf. It has the potential to fall, and this would cause the potential energy to become converted into kinetic energy.

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Looking at the examples in the table,  we can sort them as such:

Girl swimming laps- Kinetic energy because the girl is in motion.

Boy on diving board - Potential energy because the boy is not in motion, but has the potential to be in motion.

Girl hitting volleyball - Kinetic energy because the volleyball is in motion.

Boy holding volleyball- Potential energy because the volleyball is stationary and has the potential to be in motion.

Therefore, the correct table is table 1.