Question

When a ball drops from the roof of a building, it speeds up as it falls. What energy transformation is happening?

A. Gravitational potential energy to kinetic energy
B. Kinetic energy to gravitational potential energy
C. Light energy to sound energy
D. Gravitational potential energy to nuclear energy

Answer 1

Hello!

The answer is A. Gravitational potential energy to kinetic energy

Why?

First, the ball is experimenting gravitational potential energy since it hasn´t been dropped.

Then, the gravitational energy turns into kinetic energy. The ball gains speed because of the acting of the gravity acceleration which is equal to
`9.81 (m)/(s^(2) )`. But, what does it that means? It means that every second while the ball is falling, its velocity will increase at a speed rate of
`9.81 (m)/(s) }`

The gravitational potential energy is equal to:

`PE=m*g*h`

Where

`m=ObjectMass\\\ g= GravityAcceleration=9.81(m)/(s^(2)) \\h=Height`

The kinetic energy is equal to

`KE=(1)/(2)*m*v^(2)`

Where:

`m=ObjectMass\\v=ObjectVelocity`

Have a nice day!

Answer 2

As initial position of the ball is upwards and at some height above the surface of Earth

so here we can say that initial total energy of the ball is in the form of gravitational potential energy

this is given by equation

`U = mgh`

here we know that

h = initial height of the ball from ground

now again we know that ball is released from rest from that initial height and it continue from this position

As it start falling down the speed of the ball will increase due to gravity so here we can say that as ball go down its kinetic energy will increase

so here correct answer for energy transform is

A. Gravitational potential energy to kinetic energy