Lesson 3.4.1.8

3.4.1.8 Conservation of energy Quiz: AQA Physics, Unit 4

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 3.4.1.8, Conservation of energy: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA Physics (7408), Unit 4: Mechanics and materials, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. The principle of conservation of energy states that:

    • energy is conserved only in elastic processes
    • the total energy of a system always increases
    • energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred or transformed
    • kinetic energy is always conserved in a closed system

  2. The gravitational potential energy change near the Earth's surface is given by:

    • delta Ep = m g delta h
    • delta Ep = 0.5 m v^2
    • delta Ep = m g / delta h
    • delta Ep = m delta h / g

  3. The kinetic energy of an object of mass m and speed v is:

    • Ek = 0.5 m^2 v
    • Ek = 0.5 m v^2
    • Ek = m v^2
    • Ek = m v

  4. Energy dissipated against resistive forces usually appears as:

    • increased gravitational potential energy
    • thermal energy in the surroundings
    • reduced mass of the system
    • momentum lost from the system

  5. A ball falls freely with negligible air resistance. Which statement is correct?

    • Kinetic energy increases as gravitational potential energy decreases
    • Both kinetic and potential energy increase together
    • Potential energy increases as the ball speeds up
    • Total mechanical energy decreases steadily during the fall

  6. The energy stored in a spring stretched by extension delta L with force F is:

    • 0.5 F delta L, the gradient of the force-extension graph
    • F delta L, the area under the force-extension graph
    • 0.5 F^2 delta L, the area under the force-extension graph
    • 0.5 F delta L, the area under the force-extension graph

  7. A stone is thrown vertically upwards. At its maximum height, which energy transfer has occurred?

    • gravitational potential energy has been fully converted to kinetic energy
    • thermal energy has been converted to kinetic energy
    • kinetic energy has been fully converted to gravitational potential energy
    • kinetic energy has been converted to elastic potential energy

  8. A 2.0 kg ball is dropped from 10 m with no air resistance (g = 9.8 m/s^2). What is its speed just before hitting the ground?

    • 19.6 m s^-1
    • 9.8 m s^-1
    • 98 m s^-1
    • 14 m s^-1

  9. An object is launched vertically at 6.0 m/s with no air resistance (g = 9.8 m/s^2). What is its maximum height?

    • 3.1 m
    • 0.6 m
    • 1.8 m
    • 6.0 m

  10. A pendulum bob is released from rest 0.20 m above its lowest point (g = 9.8 m/s^2). What is its speed at the lowest point?

    • 3.9 m s^-1
    • 0.20 m s^-1
    • 0.98 m s^-1
    • 2.0 m s^-1

  11. A 60 kg skier drops 40 m vertically, and 25% of the lost gravitational potential energy is dissipated by friction (g = 9.8 m/s^2). What is the kinetic energy at the bottom?

    • 17.6 kJ
    • 23.5 kJ
    • 5.9 kJ
    • 9.4 kJ

  12. A 1000 kg car slows from 25 m/s to 15 m/s on level ground. How much energy is dissipated against resistive forces?

    • 200 kJ
    • 125 kJ
    • 400 kJ
    • 80 kJ

  13. A spring with spring constant 200 N/m is extended by 0.050 m. What is the energy stored?

    • 2.5 J
    • 0.25 J
    • 0.025 J
    • 0.5 J

  14. A 0.20 kg ball is launched from a spring that stores 0.50 J, all of which becomes kinetic energy. What is its launch speed?

    • 5.0 m s^-1
    • 3.2 m s^-1
    • 1.6 m s^-1
    • 2.2 m s^-1

  15. A 50 kg runner climbs 30 m vertically (g = 9.8 m/s^2). What gravitational potential energy is gained?

    • 29.4 kJ
    • 147 kJ
    • 14.7 kJ
    • 1.47 kJ

  16. A 0.10 kg ball falls 20 m, and 4.0 J is dissipated by air resistance (g = 9.8 m/s^2). What is its speed at the ground?

    • 19.8 m s^-1
    • 17.7 m s^-1
    • 13.9 m s^-1
    • 8.9 m s^-1

  17. An object starts from rest at 30 m above the ground on a frictionless drop. At what height does its kinetic energy equal its gravitational potential energy?

    • 20 m
    • 10 m
    • 15 m
    • 7.5 m

  18. A pump raises 1200 kg of water through 15 m using 500 kJ of electrical energy (g = 9.8 m/s^2). What is its efficiency?

    • 35%
    • 29%
    • 3.5%
    • 42%

  19. A student says energy is lost in a collision so energy is not conserved. Which response is best?

    • Energy is conserved; the kinetic energy lost is transferred to thermal and sound energy in the surroundings.
    • The student is correct, because conservation of energy applies only to elastic collisions.
    • The student is correct, since energy is destroyed whenever kinetic energy decreases.
    • Energy is conserved only for objects that are at rest before the collision.

  20. A 2.0 kg block slides 2.5 m vertically down a rough slope and reaches the bottom at 4.0 m/s from rest (g = 9.8 m/s^2). How much energy is dissipated by friction?

    • 33 J
    • 16 J
    • 49 J
    • 65 J

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