Question #5213a
1 Answer
Jan 31, 2018
Typically when things fall.
Explanation:
The conversion of energy is subtle, but we normally notice a force acting. In the case above, that force is gravity, so as things fall there is an unbalanced (or net) force which causes the object to accelerate.
A more complex example would be the conversion of other forms of potential energy (chemical or strain i.e. elastic energy.) In these scenarios an electrical cell (or battery of cells) would drive a motor or a stretched elastic band would ping a paper pellet across a classroom (v. naughty, but valid example.)
In each case, humans tend to notice the force not the energy conversion.
