Question

What steps are involved in converting potential energy to kinetic energy

Answer 1

Answer:

Decreasing in altitude and increasing in velocity

Explanation:

The formula for potential energy is:

$E_p = mgh$

where m is mass, g is constant gravitational energy and h is the potential altitude.

The formula for kinetic energy is:

$E_k = mv^2/2$

where v is the velocity

Since m,g are constant, to convert from potential energy to kinetic energy, h must decreases while v increases. For example dropping an object from a height.

Answer 2

Answer:

Explanation:

Atractive forces tries to stop objects when they try to escape of the influence of these forces. Examples of this situation are the gravitational force and electric force.

When the object loses speed, its speed is decreasing, that is, its kinetic energy is decreasing, because the kinetic energy depends on speed:

$E_k=\frac{1}{2}mv^2$

this lost of kinetic energy is equilibrated by the increase of the potential energy generated by the atractive force.

Because of this dynamic between the kinetic energy and the potential energy, the total mechanical energy of the object is conserved.