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A trampoline is made from a sheet of material held in place by stretched springs - AQA - GCSE Physics Combined Science - Question 3 - 2022 - Paper 1
Question 3
A trampoline is made from a sheet of material held in place by stretched springs. Figure 5 shows a child on a trampoline. Figure 5 Position A shows the child's ma... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:A trampoline is made from a sheet of material held in place by stretched springs - AQA - GCSE Physics Combined Science - Question 3 - 2022 - Paper 1
Step 1
Describe the changes to the stores of energy of the child
Answer
As the child moves from position A to position B, the child’s gravitational potential energy decreases as they fall, converting into kinetic energy as they approach the lowest point on the trampoline. At position B, the kinetic energy is at its maximum just before the child begins to compress the springs.
Step 2
Describe the changes to the stores of energy of the springs
Answer
When the child is at position A, the springs have elastic potential energy stored due to their stretched state as the child rests on the trampoline. As the child moves to position B, this elastic potential energy initially converts to kinetic energy. When compressed, the springs store more elastic potential energy, which increases as they are further stretched.
Step 3
Describe the changes to the stores of energy of the surroundings
Answer
The surroundings begin with little energy transfer when the child is at position A. As the child falls and compresses the trampoline springs, some energy is dissipated as internal (thermal) energy due to friction and deformation of materials. The average kinetic energy of the particles in the surroundings increases as the child interacts with the trampoline.
Step 4
Step 5