Which statement describes the process of subduction?
A)Convection currents pull a plate into the mantle.
B)One plate slides beneath another due to gravitational pull.
C)Materials are transferred within Earth’s interior by density.
D)Heat cycles in the mantle cause plates to constantly move.

answer: the potential energy decreases from 379 j to 243 j

explanation:

for the law of conservation of energy, the total energy in a system must be conserved. the total energy of the system is given by the sum of kinetic (k) and potential (u) energy:

e = k + u

the total energy is e=675 j, and this does not change.

initially, the kinetic energy is k=296 j, so the potential energy is

at the end, the kinetic energy is k=432 j, so the potential energy is

so, we see that the potential energy has decreased from 379 j to 243 j.