Bungee Jumper

Question 1

Describe the energy changes of a bungee jumper

Answer 1

At the start all the energy stored in gravitational potential energy
As the jumper falls energy is transferred to kinetic energy store
When the bungee rope just starts to tighten the kinetic energy store is now at its maximum
When the Rope is fully extended the kinetic energy store of zero - elastic potential energy store
The bungee jump recoils and The elastic potential energy is converted back into kinetic energy
The kinetic energy is then transferred to gravitational potential energy

Question 2

Why does the bungee jump and never return back to its original position

Answer 2

Because energy is dissipated as thermal energy

Question 3

Why has the jumper lost energy

Answer 3

Friction with air particles

Stretching effect of rope not fully elastic