Ask a New Question
Menu

Two watermelons fall off a kitchen counter. The masses and speeds of the fruits are in the table. How do the kinetic and/or the potential energies of the fruits compare?(1 point) Responses Both fruits have only potential energy and no kinetic energy. Both fruits have only potential energy and no kinetic energy. The watermelon B has more kinetic energy. The watermelon B has more kinetic energy. The watermelon A has more kinetic energy. The watermelon A has more kinetic energy. Both fruits have the same kinetic and potential energy.

1 answer

To compare the kinetic and potential energies of the two watermelons, we need to consider both their masses and speeds.

  1. Potential Energy (PE): This is given by the formula \( PE = mgh \), where \( m \) is mass, \( g \) is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.81 m/s²), and \( h \) is the height above the ground. If both watermelons fell from the same height, they would have the same potential energy at that height.

  2. Kinetic Energy (KE): This is given by the formula \( KE = \frac{1}{2} mv^2 \), where \( m \) is mass and \( v \) is speed. The watermelon's kinetic energy will increase as it falls and speeds up.

Without the specific data from the table you mentioned (the masses and speeds of watermelon A and B), we can't determine the exact relationship between their energies. However, if we assume:

  • If both watermelons fell the same height, they would have the same potential energy at the top, turning into kinetic energy as they fall.
  • If watermelon B has a greater speed than watermelon A, it will have more kinetic energy.
  • If one watermelon has a greater mass but the same speed as the other, it will have more kinetic energy.

Based on general reasoning:

  • If the statement is true that both begin at the same height, they would only possess potential energy before falling (correct for the first statement).
  • Once they start falling, they will convert that potential energy into kinetic energy.

If you have specific values for mass and speed for watermelon A and B, you can check which one has more kinetic energy based on the formulas given above.

If you can provide those values, I could help with more specific calculations or conclusions. Otherwise, based on the options given, you might lean towards one of those conclusions based on the information from the table.