Terry kicks a soccer ball that is sitting motionless on the field. What is the best description of the energy transfer?
The energy transfer is from Terry's kinetic energy to the soccer ball's kinetic energy.
The energy transfer in this scenario can be described as follows:
1. Terry's leg muscles generate mechanical energy.
2. This mechanical energy is transferred to the soccer ball through the contact made with Terry's foot.
3. The transfer of energy causes the soccer ball to acquire kinetic energy.
4. As the soccer ball begins to move, the potential energy it had while stationary decreases.
5. The kinetic energy of the soccer ball increases as it gains speed and momentum.
6. The energy transfer is complete when all of Terry's mechanical energy is transferred to the soccer ball, which now possesses primarily kinetic energy.
The best description of the energy transfer in this scenario is that there is a transfer of kinetic energy from Terry to the soccer ball.
To understand this energy transfer, it's important to know the different types of energy involved. In this case, the initial energy the soccer ball has is potential energy, as it is sitting motionless on the field. Potential energy is the stored energy an object possesses due to its position, shape, or condition.
When Terry kicks the soccer ball, he imparts force on it, causing it to move. This force results in the conversion of potential energy into kinetic energy. Kinetic energy is the energy possessed by an object due to its motion. As the soccer ball starts to move, it gains kinetic energy, eventually reaching its maximum kinetic energy when it is in motion.
Therefore, in this energy transfer, Terry's action of kicking the soccer ball transfers potential energy stored in the ball into kinetic energy as it starts to move.