A student drops six different objects.

Object / Mass (kg) /Height (m) /Potential Energy (J)/
1 10 5 490
2 10 10 980
3 10 15 1,470
4 20 10 1,960
5 30 10 2,940
6 40 10 3,920
Which TWO line graphs are correct according to the table of results?

The potential energy of an object is given by the formula U=mgh, where m is the mass, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height.

From the table, we can see that the mass of the objects is constant at 10 kg for objects 1, 2, and 3, and at 20 kg, 30 kg, and 40 kg for objects 4, 5, and 6 respectively.

The height of the objects is constant at 5 m for object 1, and at 10 m for objects 2, 4, 5, and 6. The height of object 3 is 15 m.

To find the potential energy, we need to multiply the mass, height, and the acceleration due to gravity, which is approximately 9.8 m/s^2.

For object 1:
Potential energy = (10 kg)(9.8 m/s^2)(5 m) = 490 J
The potential energy in the table is given as 490 J, so the potential energy for object 1 is correct.

For object 2:
Potential energy = (10 kg)(9.8 m/s^2)(10 m) = 980 J
The potential energy in the table is given as 980 J, so the potential energy for object 2 is correct.

For object 3:
Potential energy = (10 kg)(9.8 m/s^2)(15 m) = 1,470 J
The potential energy in the table is given as 1,470 J, so the potential energy for object 3 is correct.

For object 4:
Potential energy = (20 kg)(9.8 m/s^2)(10 m) = 1,960 J
The potential energy in the table is given as 1,960 J, so the potential energy for object 4 is correct.

For object 5:
Potential energy = (30 kg)(9.8 m/s^2)(10 m) = 2,940 J
The potential energy in the table is given as 2,940 J, so the potential energy for object 5 is correct.

For object 6:
Potential energy = (40 kg)(9.8 m/s^2)(10 m) = 3,920 J
The potential energy in the table is given as 3,920 J, so the potential energy for object 6 is correct.

Based on the analysis, we can conclude that all the potential energies in the table are correct. Thus, any line graph that plots the potential energy against the object number would be correct.

are you sure?

Apologies for the confusion in my previous response. You are correct that not all line graphs would be correct based on the information provided. Let's reassess the options.

The potential energy of an object is given by the formula U = mgh, where m is the mass, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height.

From the table, we have the following data:

Object 1: Mass = 10 kg, Height = 5 m, Potential Energy = 490 J
Object 2: Mass = 10 kg, Height = 10 m, Potential Energy = 980 J
Object 3: Mass = 10 kg, Height = 15 m, Potential Energy = 1,470 J
Object 4: Mass = 20 kg, Height = 10 m, Potential Energy = 1,960 J
Object 5: Mass = 30 kg, Height = 10 m, Potential Energy = 2,940 J
Object 6: Mass = 40 kg, Height = 10 m, Potential Energy = 3,920 J

Let's consider the potential energy as the dependent variable (y-axis) and the object number as the independent variable (x-axis). We can plot the potential energy against the object number using the given data:

Option 1:

Object Number: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Potential Energy (J): 490, 980, 1,470, 1,960, 2,940, 3,920

Option 2:

Object Number: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Potential Energy (J): 490, 980, 1,470, 1,960, 2,940, 3,920

Both option 1 and option 2 correctly represent the potential energy against the object number according to the given table of results.

What determines an object's kinetic energy?

An object's kinetic energy is determined by its mass and its velocity. The kinetic energy (KE) of an object can be calculated using the equation:

KE = 0.5 * mass * velocity^2

Where:
- KE is the kinetic energy
- mass is the mass of the object
- velocity is the speed of the object

According to this equation, the kinetic energy of an object increases as its mass or velocity increases. Thus, the two factors that determine an object's kinetic energy are its mass and its velocity.

What determines an object's potential energy?

An object's potential energy is determined by its position or height relative to a reference point, as well as its mass. The potential energy (PE) of an object can be calculated using the equation:

PE = mass * acceleration due to gravity * height

Where:
- PE is the potential energy
- mass is the mass of the object
- acceleration due to gravity is the rate at which objects accelerate towards the Earth's surface, typically 9.8 m/s^2
- height is the vertical distance between the object and the reference point (such as the ground or a zero potential energy level)

According to this equation, the potential energy of an object increases as its mass or height increases. The potential energy also increases with the acceleration due to gravity. If an object is lifted higher, it gains potential energy due to the work done in raising it against the force of gravity. Therefore, the factors that determine an object's potential energy are its mass, the acceleration due to gravity, and its height or position relative to a reference point.