As an object fall how are kinetic and potential energy related?
As an object falls, potential energy decreases while kinetic energy increases. The relationship between kinetic and potential energy is explained by the conservation of mechanical energy.
Potential energy is the energy stored by an object due to its height or position relative to its surroundings. It is the energy that an object possesses because of its potential to do work. In the case of an object falling, potential energy decreases as the object descends, moving closer to the ground. The formula to calculate potential energy is given by: PE = mgh, where PE is the potential energy, m is the mass of the object, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height of the object above the reference point.
Kinetic energy, on the other hand, is the energy possessed by an object due to its motion. It depends on the mass of the object and its velocity. As the object falls, its velocity and consequently its kinetic energy increase. The formula to calculate kinetic energy is given by: KE = 0.5mv², where KE is the kinetic energy, m is the mass of the object, and v is its velocity.
According to the conservation of mechanical energy, the total mechanical energy of an object remains constant as long as no external forces (such as air resistance) are acting on it. Therefore, as an object falls, the decrease in potential energy is balanced by an equal increase in kinetic energy. This implies that the sum of kinetic and potential energy remains constant during free fall, with the total mechanical energy being conserved.