Energy is one of the most interesting topics to talk about. And it revolves around one principle of conservation law — energy cannot be created or destroyed, but it changes from one form to another.
Most of the misconceptions regarding energy can be dismissed with this simple law. So why is kinetic energy lost when jumping on trampolines? Well, it isn’t lost! The question itself is wrong since we know energy cannot be destroyed or created.
The conversion of energy from one form to another when you’re jumping on a trampoline is interesting. In this article, we’ll be trying to explain how the kinetic and potential energy change into one another at different phases.
The Cycle of Energy Conversion
In the usual scenario, the conversion of energy is simple. When you’re static i.e., not moving, you are full of potential energy.
And the moment you start moving, all that potential energy gets converted to kinetic energy, which is responsible for keeping you mobile. Then, when you stop moving, the kinetic energy again transforms.
So, how does this work when you jump on the trampoline?
The Cycle of Energy on a Trampoline
It begins when you’re standing still outside the trampoline. You’re full of potential energy and zero kinetic energy. The second you jump onto the trampoline, your body’s potential energy converts to kinetic energy as it propels you up.
But some of that potential energy gets stored inside the trampoline mat as elastic potential energy. Where does this energy go? Well, when you fall down from the height, even if you don’t want to jump, the mat will push you up.
The force that propels you forward each time you touch the trampoline? It’s from that stored potential energy. And here, it converts again to kinetic energy.
So, does this mean you’ll never stop jumping? Will this motion continue till the end of time? Well, our conservation law of energy certainly gives the impression. But it’s not the case.
Why Don’t We Keep Jumping Forever?
The model I described above has a little bit of a problem. It gives the impression that we’ll keep jumping forever. Unfortunately, that is far from reality. In real life, it only continues for a few rounds, leaving you with an adrenaline rush and tiredness at the end.
So, there is a key factor missing in our theory.
The Missing Key Factors
There is a thing called the resistive force in physics. What is it? It’s a force that works against motion and change of state.
When it opposes the motion and state change, it causes a loss of energy from the system. While they don’t instantly stop the cycle of converting from potential to kinetic energy, it slowly cuts the energy out.
Where does the energy loss go since it can’t be created or destroyed? Do you feel how hot your skin gets each time your skin frictions against the mat? That is part of the energy lost from the system. It exits the system as thermal energy.
There’s another force that we don’t notice. It’s the resistance from air. Obviously, it’s going to be hardly noticeable at a limited height. But it does create heat from the friction with your body. And that’s where some energy is lost.
Final Words
So, why is kinetic energy lost jump on trampolines? While kinetic energy isn’t “destroyed”, it does convert into some other form of energy and exits the system. Now you know where some of the energy gets lost and why you don’t keep bouncing on the trampoline forever.
Last Updated on May 3, 2023
