an arrow was shot at a suspended clay target. the original KE the arrow was shot with was 2.0 J. the final KE from the arrow-target collision was 0.2 J. What happened to the original KE of the arrow? Give at least four possible ways in which this KE could have been lost.
I think the KE may have been transferred to PE inside the clay target as it was absorbed into the target. Another way could have been been that the original KE was changed into heat. Another way could have been that energy was changed into vibrations throughout the arrow and target.
Is my reasoning correct? Can you help me develop this reasoning please?
Yes, your reasoning is correct! Let's further develop and expand upon the possible ways in which the original kinetic energy (KE) of the arrow could have been lost.
1. Conversion of KE to Potential Energy (PE) in the target: When the arrow collides with the clay target, some of the kinetic energy could be transferred to the target material, causing it to deform or break. This energy is then stored as potential energy within the target, as the target gains the ability to return to its original shape.
2. Conversion of KE to Heat: Another way the original KE could be lost is through the process of friction. During the collision, there is likely to be some friction between the arrow and the target, causing heat to be generated. This heat energy is a result of the kinetic energy being converted into the random motion of the particles within the system.
3. Transfer of KE to Sound Waves: As the arrow and the target collide, they may generate vibrations that propagate through the material, producing sound waves. These sound waves are a form of mechanical energy that represent the transfer of kinetic energy from the arrow to the surrounding air or any physical medium present.
4. Loss of KE due to Elasticity: If the arrow and the target are both elastic materials, some KE could be lost due to deformations in the materials and subsequent release of energy when they spring back to their original shape. This loss occurs when the arrow and the target are not perfectly elastic, and some of the KE is converted into potential energy that is not fully recovered.
In summary, the original kinetic energy of the arrow can be lost through the conversion of energy to potential energy stored in the target, conversion to heat energy, transfer to sound waves, and energy losses due to the elasticity of the materials involved.