Question

How does the law of conservation of energy describe the dominoes standing in a row?

a. Elastic potential energy causes the first domino to tip, changing potential energy to kinetic energy
b. The energy used to tip the first domino changes potential energy to kinetic energy
c. There is actually no energy in the Dominos
d. Each domino creates its own energy

Answer 1

The law of conservation of energy in the context of dominoes explains how potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, transferring from one domino to the next without loss of total energy in the system.

Step-by-step explanation:

The law of conservation of energy plays a critical role in the example of dominoes standing in a row. When the first domino is tipped, it has potential energy due to its position. As it falls, this potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, which is the energy of motion. The first domino transfers its kinetic energy to the next domino when it strikes it, causing a chain reaction where each subsequent domino converts potential energy to kinetic energy and vice versa until the last domino falls.

The correct description of this process in relation to the law of conservation of energy is that the energy used to tip the first domino changes potential energy to kinetic energy. This embodies the principle that energy cannot be created or destroyed in an isolated system but can change forms, such as from potential to kinetic energy in the case of falling dominoes.