A diver standing on top of a diving platform that is 20 meters above the pool dives off the platform. Describe the transfer of energy that occurs during

the fall.

When the diver stands on the platform, at 20 m above the surface of the water, he has some gravitational potential energy, which is given as

E = mgh

where m is the man's mass, g is the gravitational acceleration and h is the height above the water. The moment he jumps, the gravitational potential energy starts decreasing, because its height h above the water decreases as well, and he acquires kinetic energy, which is given as

K. E = 1/2mv^2

where v is the velocity of the diver, which is increasing. When he touches the water, all the initial gravitational potential energy has been converted into kinetic energy.