An automated emergency rescue capsule descends a steep emergency track from rest at the top of a research station.
The mass of the rescue capsule is 75.0 kg75.0\text{ kg}75.0 kg. The vertical drop height of the track is 16.0 m16.0\text{ m}16.0 m. The gravitational field strength is 9.8 N/kg9.8\text{ N/kg}9.8 N/kg.
Calculate the gravitational potential energy of the rescue capsule at the top of the track. Use the equation:
gravitational potential energy=mass×gravitational field strength×height \text{gravitational potential energy} = \text{mass} \times \text{gravitational field strength} \times \text{height} gravitational potential energy=mass×gravitational field strength×heightAt the bottom of the track, the speed of the rescue capsule is 14.0 m/s14.0\text{ m/s}14.0 m/s. Calculate the kinetic energy of the rescue capsule at the bottom of the track. Use the equation:
kinetic energy=0.5×mass×(speed)2 \text{kinetic energy} = 0.5 \times \text{mass} \times (\text{speed})^2 kinetic energy=0.5×mass×(speed)2Describe why the kinetic energy of the rescue capsule at the bottom of the track is less than its gravitational potential energy at the top.
44 exam-style questions on AQA GCSE Physics 1.1 Energy changes in a system, and the ways energy is stored before and after such changes, covering 1.1.1 Energy stores and systems, 1.1.2 Changes in energy, 1.1.3 Energy changes in systems, and 1.1.4 Power. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.