# A child slides down a playground slide and comes to a stop at the bottom. Describe the energy changes that take place during the slide, including what happens to any waste energy.

> AQA GCSE Physics (8463) — 4.1.1 Energy changes in a system, and the ways energy is stored before and after such changes · Describe · 4 marks

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Gravitational potential energy decreases as the child descends
2. Gravitational potential energy is transferred to kinetic energy (as the child moves down the slide)
3. Friction between the child and the slide causes energy to be transferred to thermal energy stores
4. The thermal energy (and any sound energy) is waste energy / dissipated to the surroundings and is not usefully used

## Key terms

- [waste energy](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/waste-energy)

## Related

- [Revision notes for AQA GCSE Physics (8463)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Describe" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-child-slides-down-a-playground-c02b144a) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.