Energy of Motion Unit Test

Question

Science 8 Q1 / Energy of Motion

an athlete is practicing shot-put using a 16-pound shot and he throws it 40 feet he then uses a 12-pound shot and throws it 50 feet in 4 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, the athlete uses a 16-pound shot, which has a larger mass compared to the 12-pound shot used in the second throw. According to Newton's second law of motion, an object with a larger mass requires more force to accelerate. Therefore, in the first throw, the athlete needs to exert more force to achieve the same speed as in the second throw with the lighter shot. Additionally, the athlete throws the 16-pound shot a distance of 40 feet, while the 12-pound shot is thrown a distance of 50 feet. The work done on an object can be calculated by multiplying the force applied to it by the distance over which the force is applied. In this case, the athlete exerts the same force in both throws but over different distances. As work is directly proportional to the distance, the shot with the lighter mass is thrown further due to the increased work done on it. Finally, the kinetic energy of an object is directly proportional to its mass and the square of its velocity. Since the second shot has a lower mass, its kinetic energy will also be lower compared to the first throw. In conclusion, the difference in the throws can be attributed to the difference in mass and the relationship between mass, speed, and kinetic energy.