A brick slides across a horizontal rough surface and eventually comes to a stop. What happened to the kinetic energy of the brick?
A) Nothing; it is still in the brick but is now called potential energy.
B) It was converted to other energy forms, mostly heat.
C) It was converted to a potential energy of friction.
D) It was simply destroyed in the process of stopping.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When the brick slides across a rough surface, the kinetic energy is converted to other energy forms, mostly heat. This is due to the frictional force between the brick and the surface which opposes the motion of the brick and causes it to lose its kinetic energy. Therefore, option B is the correct answer. Option A is incorrect as the kinetic energy cannot be transformed into potential energy unless there is some potential energy associated with the system. Option C is incorrect as friction does not have potential energy. Option D is incorrect as the law of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be destroyed, only converted from one form to another.

A Brick Slides Across a Horizontal Rough Surface and Eventually