Question

Why is a tossed-up stone slowing down and eventually coming to a stop and falling back down?

A.Potential energy makes the stone go up, until it converts into gravitational energy

B.Kinetic energy makes the stone go up, until it changes into negative kinetic energy leading the stone to fall back down

C.Potential energy is first converted into kinetic energy, then, after the stopping point, the kinetic energy is converted back into potential energy

D.Kinetic energy is first converted into potential energy, until the stone stops, then the potential energy is converted back into kinetic energy

E.It is kinetic energy all the time - potential energy is only an additional measure for the height

Answer 1

The answer is C.

Before the stone is thrown, it has the potential to move. So it has potential energy.

But when you throw it, the potential energy transforms into kinetic energy (kinetic means movement).

And then, as the stone is falling back down to the ground, the kinetic energy that it had, transforms BACK into potential energy.