Grade 10 · CAPS

Grade 10 Mechanical Energy

Physical Sciences practice questions and a worked example

Grade 10 mechanical energy covers gravitational potential energy, kinetic energy and the conservation of mechanical energy. The questions here ask you to define the two kinds of energy, calculate Ep = mgh, and use the conservation of mechanical energy to find the speed of an object at a lower point or decide whether it can reach a height. They come from the DBE Grade 10 common Paper 1 for November 2016, 2017 and 2018, each with the answer from the marking guideline.

Worked example

5.2 Define the term kinetic energy.

Answer & explanation

The energy an object possesses as a result of its motion.
Kinetic energy is defined as the energy that an object possesses due to its motion. This means that any object that is moving has kinetic energy. The faster the object moves, the more kinetic energy it has. This definition captures the essence of kinetic energy, focusing on motion as the source of this energy type.

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Mechanical Energy

Question 1 of 3

1.8 A sphere is released from point A, as shown in the diagram below. It reaches point B, which is the lowest point of its swing. Ignore the effects of air friction. Which ONE of the statements below regarding the energy of the system is CORRECT?
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More practice questions

Explore additional Grade 10 Mechanical Energy questions.

  • 2
    A woman is at the shopping mall 10 m above the ground. Her cellphone, with a mass of 0,01 kg, falls and hits the ground at a speed of 14 m·s⁻¹. Ignore the effects of air resistance. 5.3 Calculate the gravitational potential energy of the cellphone at a height of 5 m above the ground.
  • 3
    A woman is at the shopping mall 10 m above the ground. Her cellphone, with a mass of 0,01 kg, falls and hits the ground at a speed of 14 m·s⁻¹. Ignore the effects of air resistance. 5.4 Calculate the velocity of the cellphone at a height of 5 m above the ground.
  • 4
    A woman is at the shopping mall 10 m above the ground. Her cellphone, with a mass of 0,01 kg, falls and hits the ground at a speed of 14 m·s⁻¹. Ignore the effects of air resistance. 5.5 Will the value of the cellphone's mechanical energy just before it hits the ground be GREATER THAN, LESS THAN or EQUAL TO the mechanical energy at a height of 5 m? Explain the answer.
  • 5
    1.5 The SI unit for gravitational potential energy is …

Common mistakes

  • Using the wrong height. h is measured from the reference point, usually the ground, to the object.
  • Forgetting that conservation of mechanical energy only applies when friction and air resistance are ignored (a closed system).
  • Leaving out the square root at the end. ½mv² = mgh gives v², so take the square root to get the speed.

More Grade 10 Physical Sciences topics

Aligned to CAPS Grade 10 Physical Sciences — Mechanical Energy. Curriculum source: CAPS for the FET Phase, Department of Basic Education.

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