Question

10 when is the popper moving the fastest? explain your answer.
11 what is happening to the mechanical energy of the popper when it pops, moved upward, reaches the peak, and falls back down? explain your answer.

Explanation:

For Question 10:

A popper toy converts stored elastic potential energy to kinetic energy when it pops. As it rises, kinetic energy converts to gravitational potential energy, slowing it down. As it falls back, potential energy converts back to kinetic energy, but air resistance reduces total mechanical energy, so its speed won't match the initial pop speed.

For Question 11:

When the popper pops, elastic potential energy converts to mechanical (kinetic + gravitational potential) energy. As it moves upward, kinetic energy converts to gravitational potential energy, but air resistance causes small mechanical energy loss. At the peak, kinetic energy is zero, and mechanical energy is mostly gravitational potential (minus energy lost to air resistance). As it falls, gravitational potential energy converts back to kinetic energy, but air resistance continues to reduce total mechanical energy.

Answer:

1. For Question 10: The popper is moving the fastest the moment it first pops upward from the surface.
2. For Question 11:

• When it pops: Stored elastic potential energy is converted into mechanical energy (kinetic + gravitational potential), so mechanical energy increases sharply from its resting state.
• When moving upward: Kinetic energy is gradually converted to gravitational potential energy, and air resistance causes a small, continuous loss of total mechanical energy.
• At the peak: Mechanical energy is at its lowest non-resting value (all remaining mechanical energy is gravitational potential, as kinetic energy is zero), reduced by air resistance losses during ascent.
• When falling back down: Gravitational potential energy converts back to kinetic energy, but air resistance continues to dissipate mechanical energy, so total mechanical energy decreases until it lands.