Factors that Affect Kinetic Energy Quick Check
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Question
Use the table of information to answer the question.
Fruit Mass (kg) Speed (m/s)
Watermelon A 4 2
Watermelon B 4 4Two watermelons fall off a kitchen counter. The masses and speeds of the fruits are in the table. How do the kinetic and/or the potential energies of the fruits compare?(1 point)
Responses
Both fruits have the same kinetic and potential energy.
Both fruits have the same kinetic and potential energy.
The watermelon B has more kinetic energy.
The watermelon B has more kinetic energy.
The watermelon A has more kinetic energy.
The watermelon A has more kinetic energy.
Both fruits have only potential energy and no kinetic energy.
Both fruits have only potential energy and no kinetic energy.
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The correct answer is:
The watermelon B has more kinetic energy.
The correct answer is: The watermelon B has more kinetic energy.
To compare the kinetic and potential energies of the watermelons, we need to understand the formulas for calculating each.
The formula for kinetic energy is given by:
Kinetic energy = (1/2) * mass * speed^2
The formula for potential energy is given by:
Potential energy = mass * gravity * height
In this case, since both watermelons fall off the kitchen counter, we can assume they fall from the same height. Therefore, the height is not a factor we need to consider and we can simplify the potential energy formula to:
Potential energy = mass * gravity
Now, let's calculate the kinetic and potential energies for each watermelon using the given values:
For Watermelon A:
Mass = 4 kg
Speed = 2 m/s
Kinetic energy = (1/2) * 4 kg * (2 m/s)^2 = 8 J
Potential energy = 4 kg * gravity (assume 9.8 m/s^2) = 39.2 J
For Watermelon B:
Mass = 4 kg
Speed = 4 m/s
Kinetic energy = (1/2) * 4 kg * (4 m/s)^2 = 32 J
Potential energy = 4 kg * gravity (assume 9.8 m/s^2) = 39.2 J
Comparing the values, we can see that both watermelons have the same potential energy of 39.2 J. However, Watermelon B has a higher kinetic energy of 32 J compared to Watermelon A's kinetic energy of 8 J.
Therefore, the correct answer is:
The watermelon B has more kinetic energy.