Use the table of information to answer the question.

Question

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

Answer 1

To compare the kinetic energies of the two watermelons, we can use the formula for kinetic energy (KE):

\[ KE = \frac{1}{2}mv^2 \]

where \( m \) is the mass and \( v \) is the speed.

For Watermelon A:

• Mass = 4 kg
• Speed = 2 m/s

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

For Watermelon B:

• Mass = 4 kg
• Speed = 4 m/s

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

Comparison:

• Watermelon A has a kinetic energy of 8 J.
• Watermelon B has a kinetic energy of 32 J.

Thus, Watermelon B has more kinetic energy than Watermelon A.

Potential Energy:

Since both watermelons are falling off a kitchen counter, they both have gravitational potential energy, but this was not provided in the table. However, they have the same mass, so their potential energy would be equal if they started at the same height.

Given this information, the correct response would be:

The watermelon B has more kinetic energy.