Bungee Jumper

• Energy transfers in a bungee jump

  1. Jumper starts with gravitational potential energy

  2. Energy transfers to kinetic energy as jumper falls

  3. Kinetic energy transfers to elastic potential energy as rope tightens

  4. Elastic potential energy transfers back to kinetic energy as rope recoils

  5. Kinetic energy transfers back to gravitational potential energy as jumper ascends
• The jumper never returns to the original position
• Energy is dissipated as thermal energy


  • Due to friction with air particles as the jumper passes through the air
  • Due to stretching effects in the bungee rope (bungee ropes are not fully elastic)
• You'll find plenty more questions on energy transfers such as the bungee jump in the A-Level Physics Revision workbook