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 balls total mechanical energy as it falls.
A graph showing the total mechanical energy of the bowling ball as it falls would show a constant value of mechanical energy throughout the fall. The mechanical energy of an object in free fall (ignoring air resistance) remains constant because there are no external forces doing work on the object. Therefore, the correct graph would be a horizontal line representing a constant value.
In a vacuum, the feather and the bowling ball will experience the same acceleration due to gravity since there is no air resistance. Therefore, their speeds will increase at the same rate, and they will both reach the ground at the same time.
The mechanical energy of an object can be given as the sum of its kinetic energy and potential energy. As the object falls, its potential energy decreases while its kinetic energy increases.
Since the bowling ball is a much heavier object than the feather, it has a larger mass. Therefore, it will have a greater kinetic energy compared to the feather.
The correct graph would show the bowling ball's total mechanical energy increasing as it falls. However, keep in mind that the potential energy will decrease while the kinetic energy will increase. The graph should show the total mechanical energy, with the kinetic energy increasing and the potential energy decreasing simultaneously.
To understand the graph that correctly represents the bowling ball's total mechanical energy as it falls, we need to consider the concept of mechanical energy and how it changes during the process. Mechanical energy is the sum of two components: potential energy (PE) and kinetic energy (KE).
Potential energy is the energy stored in an object due to its position or configuration. In the case of dropping the objects from the same height, both the feather and the bowling ball start with the same potential energy because they are at the same height initially.
Kinetic energy, on the other hand, is the energy associated with the motion of an object. As the objects fall, their potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, which means their total mechanical energy remains constant. Therefore, the graph of the bowling ball's total mechanical energy as it falls should be a horizontal line, showing a constant value.
Hence, the correct graph should be a straight line parallel to the x-axis, indicating that the total mechanical energy of the bowling ball remains constant throughout its fall.