Question

the graph below shows the conservation of energy for a skydiver jumping out of a plane and landing safely on the ground. which energy is represented by line a? a. total energy b. thermal energy c. kinetic energy d. potential energy

Explanation:

Step1: Recall energy - conservation principle

In the absence of non - conservative forces (neglecting air resistance initially), the total mechanical energy (sum of kinetic and potential energy) of the skydiver is conserved. As the skydiver falls, potential energy is converted into kinetic energy. Also, due to air resistance, some energy is converted into thermal energy. The total energy of the system (skydiver + environment) remains constant.

Step2: Analyze the graph

The total energy of the skydiver is constant throughout the fall (in an ideal or non - dissipative case, and in a real - world case with air resistance, the total energy of the skydiver - Earth system is still conserved considering the energy dissipated as heat). Line A is horizontal, which represents the total energy of the skydiver. As the skydiver falls, the height decreases, so the potential energy (which is proportional to height) decreases. The kinetic energy increases as the speed of the skydiver increases during the fall. And some energy is dissipated as thermal energy due to air resistance.

Answer:

A. Total energy