The difference in the throws can be attributed to the relationship between mass, velocity, and kinetic energy. Kinetic energy is given by the formula \( KE = \frac{1}{2}mv^2 \), where \( m \) represents mass and \( v \) represents velocity. Although the 16-pound shot has more mass, it may not have been thrown with the same speed as the lighter 12-pound shot, resulting in lower kinetic energy despite its greater mass. The lighter shot, being easier to accelerate, may have been thrown at a higher speed, allowing it to travel further despite its lower mass. Thus, the speed at which the shots are thrown plays a crucial role in determining the distance, highlighting how both mass and velocity influence the overall kinetic energy of the throw.
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.(4 points)/
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