Name Date Period

Checking Energy States, Open/Closed Systems

For each picture, draw the frame of reference (points and zero height) and then identify which of
the mechanical energy ‘pockets’ (pocket means where the energy is stored) have energy:

1) A student stands at the top of a slide. Measure relative to the top of the slide.
(the student is a star pupil :)

Etop of slide = Ektop + Epgtop + Epspringtop

Etop = + + (Draw a Bar Chart)

2) A student stands at the top of a slide. Measure relative to the ground.

Etop of slide = Ektop + Epgtop + Epspringtop

Etop = + + (Draw a Bar Chart)

3) The student slides down the slide from the top. At the bottom of the slide (still above the ground as the
slide does not end level with the ground), before sliding completely off. Measure relative to the ground.

Ebottom of slide = Ekbottom + Epgbottom + Epspringbottom

Ebottom = + + (Draw a Bar Chart)

4) Assuming the slide is completely frictionless (aka negligible frictional forces), compare the
student’s energy at the top of the slide to the students’ energy at the bottom of the slide.

a) The total energy at the top (prob#2) more than / equal to / less than the total energy at bottom (#3)

b) The Ek at the bottom is more than / equal to / less than the Ep at the top.
Explain your answer for 4.b.
c) Is this a closed or an open system? Closed / Open
5) A person stands on the edge of a cliff and throws a ball upwards. As the ball leaves their hand
(position A, after it is thrown), the ball goes up, hits the apex, and then falls past the edge of the cliff
towards the ground far, far below.

 Draw a picture of the situation described above. Choose a frame of reference that measures the
release position of the ball with respect to the ground below the cliff. Determine the Energy
amounts in each ‘pocket’ of mechanical energy at each location. Assume the ball starts with
“some” energy, the energy at release is done for you.

E = KE + PEg + PEspring ET =

a) Release EA = 15J + 45J + 0J, ET =

b) Half way to apex EB = + + ET =

c) At the Apex EC = + + ET =

d) Falling past the release ED = + _+ ET =

height (so same height as
released)
e) Right before it hits the ground EE = + _+ ET =

6) A box starts at rest. Wind pushes the box across a gravel lot. First, draw the free body diagram for the
box as the wind pushes on it. Then, draw the energy problem picture, define a frame of reference, and
write the energy statement for the box comparing the energy at the start, the work done on the box,
and the energy at the end. Be sure to identify if the work done by each force in your free body
diagram is positive, zero, or negative. (this is an open system)
a) FBD:

b) Picture for energy problem:

c) Energy statement (write the equation here)

7) A pinball rests on the pulled back spring of a pinball machine which stores 25J of energy. Assuming a
frictionless situation, solve for the energy states at A, B, and C. Assume that the ball goes as high as
it can and stops at C.
E = Ek + Epg + Epspring ET =

EA = + _+ ET =
C
EB = + + ET =
A EC = + + ET =
B