A skydiver jumps out of a plane and begins to accelerate. His speed increases to 20 m/s, then 30 m/s. His acceleration slows until he reaches a constant speed of 50 m/s. Which statement correctly describes his kinetic energy during this time? (1 point)
•His kinetic energy would remain the same for the whole fall as long as he lost no mass.
•His kinetic energy was positive at first, but it decreased to zero when he stopped accelerating.
• His kinetic energy increased while his speed increases, then it became constant.
• His kinetic energy increased quickly at first, then it increased at a constant rate.
The correct statement is: His kinetic energy increased while his speed increased, then it became constant.
The corrected statement that describes the skydiver's kinetic energy during this time is: His kinetic energy increased while his speed increases, then it became constant.
The correct statement that describes the skydiver's kinetic energy during this time is: "His kinetic energy increased while his speed increases, then it became constant."
To understand why this statement is correct, let's break down the situation.
Initially, when the skydiver jumps out of the plane, he begins to accelerate. As he accelerates, his speed increases from 0 m/s to 20 m/s, and then to 30 m/s. During this time, his kinetic energy is also increasing because kinetic energy is directly proportional to the square of the velocity (KE = 1/2 * m * v^2, where KE is kinetic energy, m is mass, and v is velocity).
So, as the skydiver's speed increases, his kinetic energy increases as well.
However, at a certain point, the skydiver's acceleration slows down and he reaches a constant speed of 50 m/s. At this point, his kinetic energy also becomes constant because his velocity is no longer changing. The energy of motion, in this case, is no longer increasing or decreasing; it remains constant.
Therefore, the correct statement is that his kinetic energy increased while his speed increased, and then it became constant.