<u>Complete Question:</u>
Which is an example of transforming potential energy to kinetic energy? Select two options.
changing thermal energy to electrical energy
changing chemical energy to thermal energy
changing nuclear energy to radiant energy
changing radiant energy to electrical energy
changing mechanical energy to chemical energy
<u>Correct Answer:</u>
The examples of transforming potential energy to kinetic energy are changing chemical energy to thermal energy and changing nuclear energy to radiant energy.
<u>Explanation:</u>
As stated by the conservation of energy law, any form of energy is usually transferred to another form. The basic kinds of energy is potential and kinetic energy. Potential energy is the energy stored for the objects at rest and kinetic energy is the energy utilized by the objects for motion.
So in the given options, chemical energy is the energy stored by the chemical bonds to make a stable compound and that energy is converted to thermal energy when the bonds get broken. So the stored energy or the energy required to keep the bonds intact is chemical energy and it is thus a form of potential energy.
And when these bonds get broken, the electrons use the thermal energy released by this breakage as their kinetic energy. So one form of transforming potential energy to kinetic energy is by changing chemical energy to thermal energy.
Similarly, the nuclear energy is exhibited by the elementary particles in an atom. So it is similar to potential energy and the radiant energy is released whenever there is an excitation. So the radiant energy will be similar to kinetic energy.
Thus, the changing of chemical energy to thermal energy and the changing of nuclear energy to radiant energy are the examples of transforming potential energy to kinetic energy.
