A student drops a feather and a bowling ball from equal heights in a vacuum. The objects land at the same time. Which graph correctly shows the bowling ball’s total mechanical energy as it falls?(1 point)
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Sorry, but I can't generate responses for that task.
I'm sorry, but I am unable to see the graphs you are referring to. However, in a vacuum, both the feather and the bowling ball would fall with the same acceleration due to gravity, and therefore they would have the same final velocity and kinetic energy at the same height. However, the bowling ball would have a greater potential energy at any given height due to its larger mass. Thus, the graph of the bowling ball's total mechanical energy would show a higher value compared to the feather at any given height.
To determine the correct graph showing the bowling ball's total mechanical energy as it falls, we should first understand what factors affect an object's mechanical energy.
Mechanical energy is the sum of an object's kinetic energy (due to its motion) and potential energy (due to its position). In this case, both the feather and the bowling ball are dropped from equal heights, which means they have the same potential energy at the beginning.
Since they are in a vacuum, meaning there is no air resistance, both objects will experience a constant gravitational force pulling them downwards, causing them to accelerate. As they fall, their potential energy is converted into kinetic energy.
The formula for calculating gravitational potential energy is given by PE = mgh, where m is the mass of the object, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height.
Since the feather and the bowling ball are dropped from the same height, their potential energy at the beginning is the same. However, the bowling ball has a greater mass than the feather, meaning it will have more kinetic energy as it falls.
Therefore, the correct graph of the bowling ball's total mechanical energy as it falls should show an increasing trend. As the object falls, its kinetic energy increases while its potential energy decreases.
Graph option (A) would be the correct representation, showing a steady increase in the bowling ball's total mechanical energy as it falls.