A spring-loaded launcher shoots a small ball of mass 0.35 kg vertically upwards. The ball reaches a maximum height of 10 m. (Take g=9.8 m/s2g = 9.8\text{ m/s}^2g=9.8 m/s2 or g=10 m/s2g = 10\text{ m/s}^2g=10 m/s2.)
Calculate: (i) the gravitational potential energy gained by the ball, (ii) the minimum possible speed with which the ball was launched.
In practice, the initial launch speed must be greater than the value calculated in (a)(ii) for the ball to reach this height. Explain why.
As the ball falls back down, it eventually reaches a constant terminal velocity. Explain what happens to its gravitational potential energy as it falls through the air at this constant speed.
533 exam-style questions on CIE IGCSE Physics 1.7 Energy, work and power, covering 1.7.1a Energy stores and energy transfers, 1.7.1b Conservation of energy, 1.7.1c Kinetic and gravitational potential energy, 1.7.2 Work done, 1.7.3 Energy resources, 1.7.3a Energy resources and electricity generation, 1.7.3b Nuclear fusion as an energy source, 1.7.3c Efficiency of energy transfer, and 1.7.4 Power. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.