Question Constellation Sign up for free AQA · GCSE · Physics · Higher
Energy Losses During Launch
A theme-park pod is launched upwards by two stretched bungee cords that behave like springs.
The calculation in Question 06.2 assumes that the elastic potential energy stored in the cords is transferred to the pod's gravitational potential energy.
The actual maximum height reached by the pod will be lower than the correct answer to Question 06.2.
Explain why.
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Marking points
- 1 Identifies air resistance opposing the pod's upward motion.
- 2 Explains that some energy is dissipated/transferred to the surroundings, so less becomes gravitational potential energy.
Full-mark answer
Air resistance opposes the pod as it moves upward. Some of the stored elastic potential energy is therefore dissipated to the surroundings rather than all being transferred to gravitational potential energy, so the pod reaches a lower height.
Why this answer loses marks
The pod is heavier in real life.
The stated mass is used for both cases. The lower height comes from air resistance and energy transferred to the surroundings.