Ask a New Question
Menu

Use the table of information to answer the question.

Fruit Mass (kg) Speed (m/s)
Watermelon A 4 2
Watermelon B 4 4Two 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

The watermelon B has more kinetic energy.
The watermelon B has more kinetic energy.

Both fruits have the same kinetic and potential energy.
Both fruits have the same kinetic and potential energy.

Both fruits have only potential energy and no kinetic energy.
Both fruits have only potential energy and no kinetic energy.

The watermelon A has more kinetic energy.

1 answer

To compare the kinetic energies of Watermelon A and Watermelon B, we can use the formula for kinetic energy:

\[ KE = \frac{1}{2} m v^2 \]

Where:

  • \( KE \) is the kinetic energy,
  • \( m \) is the mass of the fruit,
  • \( v \) is the speed of the fruit.

For Watermelon A:

  • Mass \( m = 4 \) kg
  • Speed \( v = 2 \) m/s

\[ KE_A = \frac{1}{2} (4) (2^2) = \frac{1}{2} (4) (4) = 8 \text{ J} \]

For Watermelon B:

  • Mass \( m = 4 \) kg
  • Speed \( v = 4 \) m/s

\[ KE_B = \frac{1}{2} (4) (4^2) = \frac{1}{2} (4) (16) = 32 \text{ J} \]

Now comparing the kinetic energies:

  • Kinetic energy of Watermelon A: 8 J
  • Kinetic energy of Watermelon B: 32 J

Thus, Watermelon B has more kinetic energy.

Regarding potential energy, both watermelons are falling from the same height (the counter), which means they have the same potential energy just before they fall, but as they fall, their potential energy decreases while their kinetic energy increases.

Therefore, the correct response is:

The watermelon B has more kinetic energy.