Question

When determining the work on a process where an object is initially on a horizontal at an elevation and travels some distance and then it rolls down a hill, Is the work of the process still just a change in kinetic energy or does it include potential energy as well. Assuming frictionless.

Answer 1

Ans =

Yes, it will include the potential as well.

In this condition both the energy will come in existence, The loss in PE will be gained by KE due to movement of the object on the inclined horizontal plane. The total mechanical energy of the system will be conserved since no non-conservative are working on the system, the only normal force is working perpendicular to the displacement of the block.

When the only forces doing work are conservative forces (for example, gravitational and spring forces), energy changes forms - from kinetic to potential (or vice versa); yet the total amount of mechanical energy (KE + PE ) is conserved.