Question

1. the world energy consumption is shown in the chart below. categorize each energy source as kinetic \ke\ or potential energy \pe\.

• wind power (ke / pe)
• solar power (ke / pe)
• nuclear (ke / pe)
• natural gas (ke / pe)
• coal (ke / pe)

1. describe the path of energy (including at least 4 forms of energy) for a rock held above the ground then dropped. (ie chemical, electric, heat, gravity potential, kinetic, light/radiation, nuclear, sound/vibration)

Explanation:

Step1: Recall energy - type definitions

Kinetic energy is energy of motion. Potential energy is stored energy.

Step2: Categorize wind power

Wind is moving air, so wind power is kinetic energy (KE).

Step3: Categorize solar power

Solar power comes from photons (light - energy), which is a form of kinetic energy (KE).

Step4: Categorize nuclear energy

Nuclear energy is stored in the nucleus of atoms, so it is potential energy (PE).

Step5: Categorize natural gas

Natural gas has chemical energy stored in its bonds, so it is potential energy (PE).

Step6: Categorize coal

Coal has chemical energy stored in its chemical bonds, so it is potential energy (PE).

Step7: Describe energy - path of a dropped rock

• Initially, the rock held above the ground has gravitational potential energy due to its height above the ground.
• As it is dropped, the gravitational potential energy is converted into kinetic energy as it gains speed.
• When the rock hits the ground, some of the kinetic energy is converted into sound/vibration energy (as it makes a noise) and heat energy (due to friction with the air and impact with the ground). There may also be some minor electrical - like effects in certain cases (e.g., static - electricity generation), but the main forms are gravitational potential, kinetic, sound/vibration, and heat.

Answer:

1. Wind power: KE

Solar power: KE
Nuclear: PE
Natural Gas: PE
Coal: PE

1. Initially gravitational potential energy, then kinetic energy during the fall, and upon hitting the ground, sound/vibration and heat energy are produced.