Item NG009005: Both gravitational potential energy and motion energy are involved in an energy transformation when a book falls. As the book is falling, its gravitational potential energy decreases and its motion energy increases.
A boy holds a book above the floor. He lets go of the book and the book speeds up as it falls to the floor. Which of the following forms of energy are involved in an energy transformation while the book is falling? Explain.
- Both gravitational potential energy and motion energy (kinetic energy) are involved. As the book is falling, its gravitational potential energy decreases and its motion energy increases.
- Gravitational potential energy is involved but motion energy (kinetic energy) is not. As the book is falling, its gravitational potential energy decreases but its motion energy does not change.
- Motion energy (kinetic energy) is involved but gravitational potential energy is not. As the book is falling, its motion energy increases but its gravitational potential energy does not change.
- Neither gravitational potential energy nor motion energy (kinetic energy) is involved. Gravitational potential energy cannot be changed into motion energy, and motion energy cannot be changed into gravitational potential energy.
- Distribution of Responses

- Students Responding Correctly
Group | Correct | Total | Percent |
---|---|---|---|
Overall | 2327 | 4420 | 53% |
Grades | |||
6–8 | 1342 | 2682 | 50% |
9–12 | 980 | 1725 | 57% |
Gender | |||
Male | 1103 | 2139 | 52% |
Female | 1182 | 2182 | 54% |
Primary Language | |||
English | 2121 | 3957 | 54% |
Other | 143 | 338 | 42% |