Question
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)
1 answer
The difference in distance thrown between the 16-pound shot and the 12-pound shot can be attributed to the differences in mass. The 16-pound shot has more mass than the 12-pound shot, which means that more force is required to throw it the same distance. Additionally, the athlete is likely able to generate more speed when throwing the lighter 12-pound shot, as less force is needed to accelerate it. This increase in speed translates to a higher kinetic energy for the 12-pound shot compared to the 16-pound shot, resulting in a longer throw distance.
1 answer