Which demonstrates an airplane converting kinetic to potential energy?

• A. It moves downward to make a landing.
• B. The wheels spin as it moves on the ground.
• C. More passengers board the plane.
• D. It ascends to a higher altitude.

Answer: (D)

When an object gains height, it needs potential energy, and that energy often comes from converting kinetic energy of motion. An airplane climbing to a higher altitude is a direct example: as it rises, its gravitational potential energy increases, and if its speed drops somewhat during the climb, some of that forward kinetic energy is transformed into height energy. The other actions don’t involve this transfer between kinetic and potential energy—landing would typically involve a change in speed while lowering height, spinning wheels on the runway isn’t about changing height, and boarding more passengers changes mass rather than converting motion energy into height energy.