Question

You drive your gasoline-powered car from San Marcos to Julian. Describe the distribution of gravitational, chemical, kinetic, and thermal energy at the beginning and end of the trip, and at some point during the drive.

Answer 1

ANSWER

When a car is running, different energy conversions and energy uses are continuously going on from the beginning till the end of the run.

Gravitational - During the run, the car may have to climb up or down the roads due to the geographical conditions. When the car is up a hill, it posses gravitational energy and when comes down and pick up the speed , this gravitational energy is converted to the kinetic energy.

Chemical energy -During  fuel combustion , chemical energy is being converted to the heat energy. Also when elctric energy is used , that is the conversion of chemical energy from the battery of the car.

Kinetic Energy. - Whenever the car is in motion , it is kinetic energy that is being used. Also any moving parts like the piston movement inside the engine, kinetic energy is being used.

Thermal Energy- During Fuel combustion, chemical energy is converted into thermal energy. Also thermal energy will get produced ,due to the relative motion between any moving parts and also the friction between the tyre and the road