A ball sitting on the top of a table has potential energy but no kinetic energy.
How do potential and kinetic energy change as the ball falls off the table to the floor?
A.
Both its potential energy and its kinetic energy decrease.
B.
Both its potential energy and its kinetic energy increase.
C.
Its potential energy decreases, and its kinetic energy increases.
D.
Its potential energy increases, and its kinetic energy decreases.
C. Its potential energy decreases, and its kinetic energy increases.
Why? Because as the ball falls off the table and moves towards the floor, it loses potential energy due to the decrease in height. At the same time, its velocity increases, which means the ball gains kinetic energy. So, it's a classic case of trading potential energy for kinetic energy. You could say the ball is just bouncing off the walls with excitement!
C. Its potential energy decreases, and its kinetic energy increases.
To determine the change in potential and kinetic energy as the ball falls off the table to the floor, we need to understand the relationship between these two forms of energy.
Potential energy is the energy possessed by an object due to its position or state. In this case, the ball has potential energy as it sits on the top of the table because it is elevated above the floor.
Kinetic energy, on the other hand, is the energy possessed by an object due to its motion. In this scenario, since the ball is not moving, it does not have any kinetic energy.
As the ball falls off the table and moves towards the floor, both its potential energy and its kinetic energy change. The ball loses potential energy as it moves lower to the ground. At the same time, its kinetic energy increases as it gains motion due to gravity pulling it downwards.
Therefore, the correct answer is C. The ball's potential energy decreases, and its kinetic energy increases during its fall from the table to the floor.