Question

What is the energy transformation equation for: a diver jumps off a diving board? (Is the below correct?)

`"Chemical potential" -> "Elastic potential" -> "Gravitational potential" -> "Kinetic" -> "Sound, thermal"`

(I am not sure about the order of the first three?)

Answer 1

I am not sure from where Chemical potential energy comes. Perhaps it is work done my muscles to raise the body from ground level to height of the diving board.

Explanation:

A diver having mass `m` climbs up the diving board.
We know that Gravitational potential energy is given as `PE_G=mgDeltah`

What changes is his Gravitational potential energy due to change of height `Deltah` with reference to the ground/water level.
While standing on the diving board his velocity is zero. As such kinetic energy is also zero.

Once he jumps off the springboard we see he gets additional energy from the springboard and falls down under action of gravity `g`. Due to decrease of height above the ground level Gravitational potential energy decreases and gets converted in to his kinetic energy. `1//2mv^2`.

While in air he encounters air resistance. Some of his energy is spent in overcoming this resistance. Gets converted in to kinetic and thermal energy of surrounding air and his body.

Once diver reaches the water, we see water splashing and hear noise of splash. Thereafter the diver comes to rest. Now his potential energy becomes zero. And converted kinetic energy has been converted in to kinetic energy, heat energy and sound energy of water.

As such energy transformation equation looks like

`"Gravitational PE" +"Elastic PE of springboard" -> "Kinetic energy of air and water" + "Sound energy of splash" + "thermal energy"`