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

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

The watermelon A has more kinetic energy.

Answer 1

To compare the kinetic and potential energies of the two watermelons, let's analyze each type of energy:

1. Potential Energy (PE): The potential energy of an object is given by the formula: \[ PE = mgh \] where \( m \) is mass, \( g \) is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately \( 9.81 , m/s^2 \)), and \( h \) is the height from which the object falls. Since both watermelons have the same mass and are likely falling from the same height, their potential energies will be the same.

2. Kinetic Energy (KE): The kinetic energy of an object is given by the formula: \[ KE = \frac{1}{2}mv^2 \] where \( m \) is mass and \( v \) is speed.

   • For Watermelon A: \[ KE_A = \frac{1}{2} \times 4 , kg \times (2 , m/s)^2 = \frac{1}{2} \times 4 \times 4 = 8 , J \]

   • For Watermelon B: \[ KE_B = \frac{1}{2} \times 4 , kg \times (4 , m/s)^2 = \frac{1}{2} \times 4 \times 16 = 32 , J \]

From the calculations:

• Both watermelons have the same potential energy.
• Watermelon B has a higher kinetic energy than Watermelon A.

Therefore, the correct response is: The watermelon B has more kinetic energy.