Question

during an energy transformation, the total amount of energy stays the same. so, when one type of energy decreases, at least one other type of energy will increase. read the passage about the next part of the ride. think about how kinetic energy, chemical potential energy, and thermal energy changed. ellen biked in a straight line along the street. then, to avoid the sun, she moved over to ride under the shade of some trees. but as she pedaled faster and sped up, ellen started to feel hot even in the shade. click the blue words to correct the statements. as ellen pedaled, her kinetic energy stayed the same. at the same time, her thermal energy stayed the same, and the chemical potential energy stored in her muscle cells stayed the same.

Explanation:

Step1: Recall energy - transformation principle

Energy is conserved during transformation.

Step2: Analyze kinetic energy

As Ellen pedaled faster and sped up, her speed ($v$) increased. The formula for kinetic energy is $K = \frac{1}{2}mv^{2}$ (where $m$ is mass and $v$ is velocity). Since $m$ is constant and $v$ increased, her kinetic energy increased.

Step3: Analyze thermal energy

As she pedaled, her body did work. Some of the chemical - potential energy in her muscles was converted into thermal energy due to metabolic processes in her body. So her thermal energy increased.

Step4: Analyze chemical - potential energy

The chemical - potential energy stored in her muscle cells was used to do work (pedaling), so it decreased.

Answer:

As Ellen pedaled, her kinetic energy increased. At the same time, her thermal energy increased, and the chemical potential energy stored in her muscle cells decreased.