Question

Describe the energy transformations that take place when a skier starts skiing down a hill but after a time is brought to rest by striking a snowdrift

Answer 1

The skier will transform their gravitational energy into mostly kinetic energy (with a minor amount transformed into heat from the friction of the skis across the snow and air friction). Once the skier hits the snowdrift, their kinetic energy is transferred into the snow which moves when they strike it due to the kinetic energy that is now in the snow. Along with again a minor amount of heat energy transferred as they move through the snowdrift.