Question

What energy transfer is occurring when a battery-powered toy rolls across the floor? Stored mechanical energy is converted to thermal energy. Stored mechanical energy is converted to mechanical energy. Stored chemical energy is converted to thermal energy. Stored chemical energy is converted to mechanical energy.

Answer 1

D) Stored chemical energy is converted to mechanical energy.

Step-by-step explanation:

I took the test, this was the right answer ;)

Answer 2

• Stored chemical energy is converted to mechanical energy.

Step-by-step explanation:

A battery posses chemical energy: this is chemical potential energy, which means that it is stored in the chemical bonds of the compounds in the battery. When the compounds in the battery react some bonds are broken and others are formed; at the end some energy is released and electricity is produced.

So, the chemical energy is first transformed into electrical energy.

A motor in the toy is able to transform that electrical energy into motion of gears and axes, which is how the wheels can spin. This motion of gears, axes and wheels is mechanical energy (kinetic energy).

Then, as you see, in that way the stored chemical energy in the battery is transfered to mechanical energy of the toy as it rolls across the floor thanks to the spin of the wheels.