Energy of Motion Unit Test

Science 8 Q1 / Energy of Motion

an athlete is practicing shot-put using a 16-pound shot and he throws it 40 feet he then uses a 12-pound shot and throws it 50 feet in 4 sentences explain why there is a difference in these throws using the ideas of mass and speed and how each relates to kinetic energy

The difference in the throws can be explained by the concepts of mass and speed and their relationship to kinetic energy. In the first throw, the athlete uses a 16-pound shot, which has a larger mass compared to the 12-pound shot used in the second throw. According to Newton's second law of motion, an object with a larger mass requires more force to accelerate. Therefore, in the first throw, the athlete needs to exert more force to achieve the same speed as in the second throw with the lighter shot. Additionally, the athlete throws the 16-pound shot a distance of 40 feet, while the 12-pound shot is thrown a distance of 50 feet. The work done on an object can be calculated by multiplying the force applied to it by the distance over which the force is applied. In this case, the athlete exerts the same force in both throws but over different distances. As work is directly proportional to the distance, the shot with the lighter mass is thrown further due to the increased work done on it. Finally, the kinetic energy of an object is directly proportional to its mass and the square of its velocity. Since the second shot has a lower mass, its kinetic energy will also be lower compared to the first throw. In conclusion, the difference in the throws can be attributed to the difference in mass and the relationship between mass, speed, and kinetic energy.

The difference in the throws can be explained by considering the concepts of mass and speed, which both relate to kinetic energy.

Firstly, let's consider the impact of mass on the throws. The athlete used a 16-pound shot in the first throw, which is heavier than the 12-pound shot used in the second throw. According to Newton's second law of motion, the greater the mass of an object, the greater the force required to move it. This means that throwing the 16-pound shot requires more force compared to the 12-pound shot.

Secondly, let's consider the influence of speed on the throws. Speed is a measure of how fast an object is moving. In both scenarios, the athlete threw the shots a certain distance, but the second throw covered a greater distance (50 feet) compared to the first throw (40 feet). This indicates that the second shot had more speed than the first shot.

The kinetic energy of an object is directly proportional to its mass and the square of its speed. Therefore, in the first throw where the shot was heavier but traveled a shorter distance, the kinetic energy may have been lower compared to the second throw. In the second throw where the shot was lighter but traveled a longer distance, the kinetic energy may have been higher due to the increased speed.

In conclusion, the difference in the throws can be attributed to the combination of mass and speed. The heavier shot required more force to throw but traveled a shorter distance, resulting in potentially lower kinetic energy. Conversely, the lighter shot required less force but traveled a longer distance, potentially resulting in higher kinetic energy.

The difference in the throws can be explained by considering the concepts of mass and speed and how they relate to kinetic energy.

Kinetic energy is the energy of motion possessed by an object. It depends on both the mass and the speed of the object. The formula for kinetic energy is KE = (1/2)mv^2.

In the first scenario, the athlete uses a 16-pound shot and throws it 40 feet. The mass of the shot is greater than in the second scenario, which means it has more potential for kinetic energy. However, since we know that the two shots were thrown at the same speed, the difference in mass does not account for the difference in throws.

In the second scenario, the athlete uses a 12-pound shot and throws it 50 feet. Despite the lower mass of the shot, it was thrown at a greater distance. This suggests that the speed at which the athlete threw the 12-pound shot was higher than when they threw the 16-pound shot.

Therefore, the difference in these throws can be attributed to the difference in speed. When the athlete threw the 12-pound shot at a higher speed, it resulted in more kinetic energy being transferred to the shot, allowing it to travel a greater distance.