Use the table of information to answer the 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. The watermelon A has more kinetic energy. The watermelon A has more kinetic 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. Skip to navigation

1 answer

To compare the kinetic and potential energies of the two watermelons, we can use the formulas for kinetic energy (KE) and potential energy (PE):

  1. Kinetic Energy (KE) is given by the formula: \[ KE = \frac{1}{2} m v^2 \] where \( m \) is the mass in kilograms and \( v \) is the speed in meters per second.

  2. Potential Energy (PE) depends on height and is given by: \[ PE = mgh \] where \( h \) is the height (which is not provided in the problem) and \( g \) is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.81 m/s²).

Since both watermelons have the same mass (4 kg), we can focus on their kinetic energy since they are identical in mass.

Calculating Kinetic Energy:

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

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

Since we do not have the height (h) of either watermelon, we cannot definitively compare their potential energies, but we can assume that they have the same potential energy if they are dropped from the same height.

Conclusion:

  • Watermelon A has \( 8 , \text{J} \) of kinetic energy.
  • Watermelon B has \( 32 , \text{J} \) of kinetic energy.

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