A softball player hits a ball at 78 miles per hour. Then she hits a ball at 80 miles per hour. Which is the best prediction?(1 point)

Question

Responses

The ball hit at 78 miles per hour will have more kinetic energy.
The ball hit at 78 miles per hour will have more kinetic energy.

The balls’ kinetic energies will depend on the distances they travel.
The balls’ kinetic energies will depend on the distances they travel.

The balls will have the same amount of kinetic energy.
The balls will have the same amount of kinetic energy.

The ball hit at 80 miles per hour will have more kinetic energy.
The ball hit at 80 miles per hour will have more kinetic energy.

Answer 1

To determine which ball has more kinetic energy, we can use the formula for kinetic energy, which is:

\[ KE = \frac{1}{2}mv^2 \]

where \( KE \) is kinetic energy, \( m \) is mass, and \( v \) is velocity.

Assuming the mass of the balls is the same, the kinetic energy is primarily dependent on the square of the velocity. Since the ball hit at 80 miles per hour is traveling faster than the one hit at 78 miles per hour, it will have greater kinetic energy.

Thus, the best prediction is:

The ball hit at 80 miles per hour will have more kinetic energy.