Potential and Kinetic Energy Conversion

What type of energy did the wagon have at the top of the hill?

a. Kinetic energy

b. Potential energy

c. Mechanical energy

What happened to the energy of the wagon as it rolled downhill?

a. It increased

b. It decreased

c. It was converted

Answer:

a. Potential energy

c. It was converted

The wagon at the top of the hill had potential energy, which was converted into kinetic energy as the wagon rolled downhill. The total amount of energy (potential + kinetic) in the system remains constant, demonstrating the principle of conservation of energy.

Explanation: At the top of the hill, the wagon had potential energy, which is the stored energy an object has due to its position in a force field, in this case - gravitational. When the baby climbed into the wagon and it started rolling downhill, this potential energy began to be converted into kinetic energy, which is the energy of an object in motion. Thus, while the wagon is at rest at the top of the hill - it is full of potential energy, and as it rolls down - that energy is converted into kinetic energy, causing the wagon to move. It is important to note that the total amount of energy in the system (potential + kinetic) remains constant unless external forces like friction or air resistance come into play.