You are told 3 things...1. That there are two objects with equal masses. 2. Both objects are in motion. 3. One object has a greater kinetic energy than the other. How is this possible?
Responses
1) One object has a greater density then the other object.
2) One object has a greater volume than the other object.
3) One object is blue and one object is red.
4) One object has a greater speed than the other object.
4) One object has a greater speed than the other object.
Kinetic energy depends on both mass and speed. Therefore, if two objects have equal masses but different speeds, the one with the higher speed will have a greater kinetic energy.
4) One object has a greater speed than the other object.
Kinetic energy is calculated using the formula KE = 0.5 * mass * velocity^2. Since the mass of the two objects is equal, the difference in kinetic energy can only be due to a difference in velocity. So, if one object has a greater speed than the other, it will have a greater kinetic energy.
To determine how this is possible, let's examine the given information and go through the options one by one.
1) One object has a greater density than the other object: Density is mass divided by volume. As the given information states that the two objects have equal masses (point 1), this option is not valid since both objects have the same mass.
2) One object has a greater volume than the other object: The volume of an object is not directly related to its kinetic energy. Additionally, the given information does not provide any details about the volumes of the objects, so this option also does not provide a satisfactory explanation.
3) One object is blue and one object is red: The color of the objects is unrelated to their kinetic energy. Therefore, this option does not explain why one object has a greater kinetic energy than the other.
4) One object has a greater speed than the other object: Among the given options, this is the most plausible explanation. The kinetic energy of an object is given by the equation KE = 0.5 * mass * velocity^2. Since both objects have equal masses (point 1), if one object has a greater kinetic energy than the other, it must have a higher velocity (speed) squared (point 4).
In conclusion, the most likely explanation for one object having a greater kinetic energy than the other, given the given information, would be that one object has a greater speed than the other object (option 4).