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.

Answer 1

The difference in the throws can be explained by the concepts of mass and speed and their relationship to kinetic energy. In the first throw with the 16-pound shot, the higher mass results in more kinetic energy being transferred to the shot, allowing it to travel a shorter distance. In the second throw with the 12-pound shot, the shot has less mass but is thrown at a higher speed, resulting in more kinetic energy and a longer distance traveled.