Which of the following properties of a ball is conserved as it falls freely in a vacuum?
energy, and momentum, and mass
It is Mechanical energy
When a ball falls freely in a vacuum (a space completely devoid of air or any other medium), there are a few properties that are conserved. One such property is its mechanical energy.
To understand this concept further, let's break it down:
1. Mechanical Energy: It is the sum of potential energy (due to the object's position) and kinetic energy (due to its motion). When the ball falls freely in a vacuum, its potential energy decreases as it descends, while its kinetic energy increases due to its accelerating motion. The total mechanical energy (sum of potential and kinetic energy) remains constant.
Other properties, like mass and gravitational force, do not change during free fall in a vacuum, so they could be seen as conserved as well. However, it is worth noting that conservation of mass is a fundamental principle in nature, and the force of gravity acting on an object is determined by its mass and the gravitational acceleration, both of which remain constant throughout the fall.
In summary, the property of mechanical energy is conserved as a ball falls freely in a vacuum, while other properties like mass and gravitational force remain constant.