Downhill skiing
presents a great example of the relationship between work and energy.
A skier possesses a large amount of potential energy at the top of a mountain.
If starting at rest, all of the mechanical energy a skier possesses is
in the form of potential energy. As the skier begins to descend down the
mountain, his potential energy is depleting and being turned into the
form of kinetic energy. At the point the skier reaches the bottom of the
mountain, his speed and kinetic energy have reached their maximum. As
friction begins to act upon the skier, the quantity of work increases
and the mechanical energy of the skier is eventually lost. Finally the
skier runs out of energy and comes to a stop. A great animation of this
relationship is presented below.
KE = Kinetic Energy
PE = Potential Energy
W= Work
TME = Total Mechanical Energy
