The girl is at the highest point in swinging and starts to come down. which statement best describes the change in energy as she begins to decend?
potential energy is increasing, and kinetic energy is decreasing.
kinetic and potential energy is increasing.
kinetic and potential energy is decreasing.
kinetic energy is increasing, and potential energy is decreasing.
As the girl at the highest point in swinging starts to descend, the correct statement that describes the change in energy is:
"Kinetic energy is increasing, and potential energy is decreasing."
This is because at the highest point, her potential energy is at its maximum, and her kinetic energy is at its minimum (essentially zero if we neglect air resistance and assume she briefly comes to a stop). As she starts to come down, her height decreases, which means her potential energy decreases. Meanwhile, her speed increases as gravity pulls her down, so her kinetic energy increases.