Blake is the pitcher on his middle school baseball team. Which statement best describes the relationship between the potential and kinetic energy of the baseball when Blake pitches it to the catcher? (you can assume the ball is traveling in a straight path)
a
The potential energy increases and kinetic energy stays the same.
b
The potential energy decreases and kinetic energy increases.
c
The potential energy decreases and kinetic energy decreases.
d
The potential energy stays the same and kinetic energy decreases.
Option (b) The potential energy decreases and kinetic energy increases, best describes the relationship between the potential and kinetic energy of the baseball when Blake pitches it to the catcher.
When Blake pitches the baseball, he exerts a force on the ball, causing the ball to move. As the ball moves, its potential energy decreases because its height from the ground reduces. This decrease in potential energy is converted into kinetic energy of the ball's motion. Thus, the kinetic energy of the baseball increases as its potential energy decreases.
b
The potential energy decreases and kinetic energy increases.
To determine the relationship between potential and kinetic energy when Blake pitches the baseball, we need to understand the concepts of potential and kinetic energy.
Potential energy is the energy possessed by an object due to its position or condition. In the case of a baseball being pitched, potential energy could refer to the energy stored in the ball due to its height or the force applied to it.
Kinetic energy, on the other hand, is the energy possessed by an object due to its motion. It depends on the mass and speed of the object.
When Blake pitches the baseball, the potential energy decreases while the kinetic energy increases. This can be explained using the conservation of energy principle. As Blake exerts force on the ball, he transfers some of the potential energy into kinetic energy. The more force he applies, the more potential energy is converted to kinetic energy, resulting in an increase in the ball's speed.
Therefore, the correct statement is option (b): The potential energy decreases and kinetic energy increases.