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 3 to 4 sentences explain why there is a difference in these throws using the ideas of mass and speed and how it relates to kinetic energy. :)

Answer 1

The difference in the distances thrown with the 16-pound shot and the 12-pound shot can be attributed to both the mass of the shots and the athlete's ability to generate speed. The kinetic energy (KE) of an object is given by the formula KE = 0.5 * mass * velocity². Although the heavier 16-pound shot helps build momentum, its greater mass may lead to a slower throwing speed compared to the lighter 12-pound shot, which can be thrown with greater velocity. As a result, the athlete's ability to achieve a higher speed with the lighter shot leads to a greater kinetic energy and, ultimately, a longer throw distance.