A hang glider moves through the air. Does the hang glider have energy? A) Yes because the hang glider is decelerating B) no because the hang glider has no motor C) yes because the hang glider is moving D) no because the hang glider is moving toward the ground

Answer: C) yes because the hang glider is moving. When the hang glider is moving through the air, it possesses kinetic energy, which is the energy an object has due to its motion. The hang glider does not need a motor to have kinetic energy; any object that is in motion has kinetic energy regardless of how that motion was achieved.

Extra: Energy comes in various forms, and in the context of physics, it is the ability to do work or cause change. For objects in motion, the energy associated with this movement is known as kinetic energy, which can be calculated using the formula \( KE = \frac{1}{2}mv^2 \) (where \( m \) is the mass and \( v \) is the velocity of the object). Alongside kinetic energy, there is also potential energy, which is the energy stored due to an object's position or configuration. For example, when the hang glider is at a higher altitude, it has gravitational potential energy due to its position in Earth's gravitational field. As the glider descends and loses height, the potential energy is converted into kinetic energy.

It's a common misunderstanding that for an object to have energy, it must be powered by a motor or some form of mechanical propulsion. In reality, the form of energy an object has doesn't depend on the source of its motion, but rather on its state of motion or position. So, even though the hang glider doesn't have an engine or motor, the motion through the air clearly indicates that it possesses kinetic energy. Moreover, if the hang glider is moving toward the ground, it does not mean it lacks energy; it simply means that its potential energy is being converted into kinetic energy as it descends.