A moving pole vaulter places the lower end of a flexible pole into a fixed socket. The pole bends and then straightens, lifting the vaulter over a horizontal bar. The vaulter falls onto a thick landing mat and comes to rest.
Explain the sequence of energy-store changes from the instant the vaulter places the pole into the socket until the vaulter is stationary on the landing mat.
Your explanation must include how conservation of energy applies.
121 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Physics 3.1 Energy stores and calculations, covering 3.1.1 Gravitational potential energy, 3.1.2 Kinetic energy, and 3.1.3 Energy transfers and conservation of energy. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.