Question

An external force acts on a particle during a trip from one point to another and back to that same point. This particle is only affected by conservative forces. Does this particle’s kinetic energy and potential energy change as a result of this trip?

a) Kinetic energy changes; potential energy remains constant.
b) Kinetic energy remains constant; potential energy changes.
c) Both kinetic and potential energy change.
d) Both kinetic and potential energy remain constant.

Answer 1

Both the kinetic energy and potential energy of the particle remain constant throughout the trip.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to the principles of Conservation of Energy, a particle that is only affected by conservative forces will have constant total mechanical energy throughout its trip. This means that both the kinetic energy and potential energy of the particle will remain constant and not change as a result of the trip. This is because conservative forces, such as gravity or a spring force, can only convert energy between kinetic and potential forms without dissipating or adding energy to the system.