A heavy parcel is released from rest and slides down a spiral chute in a delivery warehouse.
The mass of the parcel is 12.5 kg12.5\text{ kg}12.5 kg. The vertical height of the chute is 8.0 m8.0\text{ m}8.0 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 parcel at the top of the chute. 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 chute, the speed of the parcel is 11.2 m/s11.2\text{ m/s}11.2 m/s. Calculate the kinetic energy of the parcel at the bottom of the chute. 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)2Explain why the kinetic energy of the parcel at the bottom of the chute is less than its gravitational potential energy at the top of the chute.
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.