Sharon and Bruce want to determine what type of energy the basketball has at various times.
c. Identify the type or types of energy described in each situation listed below.
You might click only one answer in each row, or you might click both answers in a row.
(3 points)
potential energy kinetic energy
The basketball is sitting on the wall.
potential energy – The basketball is sitting on the wall.
kinetic energy – The basketball is sitting on the wall.
The basketball is falling and is about half-way between the top and the bottom.
potential energy – The basketball is falling and is about half-way between the top and the bottom.
kinetic energy – The basketball is falling and is about half-way between the top and the bottom.
After the basketball hits the ground, it starts rolling across the ground in front of the wall.
potential energy – After the basketball hits the ground, it starts rolling across the ground in front of the wall.
kinetic energy – After the basketball hits the ground, it starts rolling across the ground in front of the wall.
potential energy – The basketball is sitting on the wall.
potential energy – The basketball is falling and is about half-way between the top and the bottom.
kinetic energy – After the basketball hits the ground, it starts rolling across the ground in front of the wall.
The basketball is sitting on the wall:
- Potential energy – The basketball is sitting on the wall.
The basketball is falling and is about half-way between the top and the bottom:
- Potential energy – The basketball is falling and is about half-way between the top and the bottom.
After the basketball hits the ground, it starts rolling across the ground in front of the wall:
- Kinetic energy – After the basketball hits the ground, it starts rolling across the ground in front of the wall.
To determine the type of energy the basketball has at various times, we need to understand the definitions of potential energy and kinetic energy.
Potential energy is the energy that an object possesses due to its position or condition. It is stored energy that has the potential to do work. For example, an object at a height has gravitational potential energy because it has the potential to fall and do work.
Kinetic energy, on the other hand, is the energy of an object due to its motion. It depends on both the object's mass and its velocity. Kinetic energy increases as the object's speed or mass increases.
Let's analyze each situation mentioned:
1. The basketball is sitting on the wall.
In this situation, the basketball is not moving. It is at a certain height from the ground due to its position on the wall. Therefore, it has potential energy. Specifically, the basketball has gravitational potential energy due to its height relative to the ground.
2. The basketball is falling and is about halfway between the top and the bottom.
When the basketball is falling, its height decreases. As it falls, the potential energy decreases because it is getting closer to the ground. At the same time, its speed increases. Due to its motion, the falling basketball also has kinetic energy.
3. After the basketball hits the ground, it starts rolling across the ground in front of the wall.
Once the basketball hits the ground, its height becomes negligible. Therefore, it loses its potential energy. However, it now has kinetic energy because it is moving across the ground. The rolling motion of the basketball indicates that it has kinetic energy.
In summary:
Situation 1: The basketball has potential energy because it is at a certain height on the wall.
Situation 2: The basketball has both potential energy (due to its falling position) and kinetic energy (due to its motion).
Situation 3: The basketball has kinetic energy because it is rolling across the ground.