During the wettest period since they started keeping records in 1877, a 25 foot boulder fell in a mudslide and blocked both lanes of Topanga Canyon Road in Malibu, California in January 2005. What was the initial transfer of energy that accelerated the boulder down the side of the mountain?
potential energy being converted into mechanical energy
mechanical energy being converted into potential energy
potential energy being converted into kinetic energy
kinetic energy being converted into potential energy

Question

During the wettest period since they started keeping records in 1877, a 25 foot boulder fell in a mudslide and blocked both lanes of Topanga Canyon Road in Malibu, California in January 2005. What was the initial transfer of energy that accelerated the boulder down the side of the mountain?
potential energy being converted into mechanical energy
mechanical energy being converted into potential energy
potential energy being converted into kinetic energy
kinetic energy being converted into potential energy

roadjester · Answer

ok so when the boulder is at the very top and not moving, it has no kinetic energy but is staying still. think about that for a sec.

Then it starts to move. so which choices can you eliminate and which do you think?

roadjester · Answer

@agent0smith mechanical energy encompasses both kinetic and potential energy doesn't it? That would make this question somewhat vague.