Question

when a car driver reached the crest of a hill, she saw the stop light turn red and slammed on the brakes. the car slowed down as it moved to the bottom of the hill. is the KE and PE increasing, decreasing, or staying the same?

Answer 1

As the brakes are opposing the motion of the car and trying to decrease the velocity of the car while moving down the hill.

Thus, the kinetic energy of the car is decreasing as the car is moving down the hill.

The height of the car is also decreasing with the motion of the car down the hill, thus, the potential energy of the car is also decreasing.

The brakes are applying the frictional force on the car which is converting their energy into heat energy. The thermal energy of the car increases as the car moves down the hill.

Thus, the kinetic energy and potential energy of the car decreases while moving down the hill.