Why does the distance traveled by the ball in each half second after it is released change in the way that it does?
A.Gravity is pulling down on the ball, so it accelerates down at a steady rate.
B.The incline plane pushes up on the ball, so it accelerates down at a steady rate.
C.Gravity is pulling down on the ball, so it moves down at a steady speed.
Please help
A.Gravity is pulling down on the ball, so it accelerates down at a steady rate.
To determine the correct answer, let's break down each option:
A. Gravity is pulling down on the ball, so it accelerates down at a steady rate.
B. The incline plane pushes up on the ball, so it accelerates down at a steady rate.
C. Gravity is pulling down on the ball, so it moves down at a steady speed.
To understand why the answer is A, we need to consider a few basic principles of physics.
First, when an object is under the influence of gravity and no other forces are acting upon it, it will experience a constant acceleration towards the ground. This acceleration due to gravity is generally denoted as "g" and is approximately equal to 9.8 meters per second squared on Earth.
Second, the distance traveled by a falling object is directly related to the time it has been falling. In other words, the longer an object falls, the farther it will travel.
Now, let's apply these principles to the problem at hand. The question mentions that the ball's distance changes in each half-second interval. When the ball is released, it begins to fall under the influence of gravity. As time passes, the ball's acceleration due to gravity remains constant, but its velocity (speed and direction) increases.
In each half second, the ball falls for a longer period of time, which means it covers more distance compared to the previous half second. This is because the velocity of the falling ball is increasing and, therefore, the distance it covers in each interval of time also increases.
Therefore, the correct answer to the question is A: Gravity is pulling down on the ball, so it accelerates down at a steady rate.