An athlete is practicing shotput using a 16-pound shot, and he throws it 40 feet. He then uses a 12-pound shot and throws it 50 feet. In three to four sentences, explain why there is a difference in these throws using the ideas of mass and speed and how each relates to kinetic energy

5 answers

The difference in the throws can be explained by the concepts of mass and speed and how they relate to kinetic energy. In the first throw with the 16-pound shot, the greater mass of the shot contributes to a higher kinetic energy when it is thrown. However, in the second throw with the 12-pound shot, the shot has a higher speed, which compensates for the lower mass and results in a similar or even higher kinetic energy. Therefore, the combination of mass and speed determines the overall kinetic energy of the throw.
shorter
The difference in the throws can be explained by the concepts of mass and speed. The 16-pound shot has greater mass, resulting in higher kinetic energy. However, the 12-pound shot has higher speed, compensating for the lower mass and resulting in a similar or even higher kinetic energy. Consequently, both mass and speed contribute to the overall kinetic energy of the throw.
simpler
shorter