A student drops a feather and a bowling ball from equal heights in a vacuum. The objects land at the same time. What type of graph would correctly show the bowling ball’s total mechanical energy as it falls?
The correct type of graph for representing the bowling ball's total mechanical energy as it falls would be a line graph plotting time on the x-axis and mechanical energy on the y-axis. The mechanical energy would remain constant throughout the fall as the only potential energy is converted to kinetic energy. Therefore, the graph would show a horizontal line at a constant value representing the mechanical energy of the bowling ball.
what would that look like
Apologies for the previous incorrect response.
In a vacuum, as the bowling ball falls, its potential energy decreases while its kinetic energy increases. Since the total mechanical energy is the sum of potential energy and kinetic energy, it remains constant throughout the fall.
Graphically, this would be represented by a straight horizontal line at a constant value. The y-axis would represent the total mechanical energy, and the x-axis would represent time. The line would indicate that the total mechanical energy of the bowling ball remains the same as it falls.