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How does water flowing over a waterfall involve both kinetic energy and potential energy?

PLZ HELP I HAVE A TEST TOMMORROW! TToTT

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Answer:

Step-by-step explanation:

We have seen at the top of the waterfall, water has a certain speed. So definitely at the top water has a certain amount of kinetic energy.

And also the higher end of the water fall also has a certain certain elevation from the ground level. So water must also has a certain potential energy before taking the fall.

What happens when it falls is that the amount of potential energy it had reduces as it's elevation reduces. and kinetic energy it had increases and we can see the water drops speed up.

This phenomenon can be explained by the law of conservation of energy.

It can be applied as,

The K.E. + P.E. the water had at the top = The K.E. + P.E. the water had at the bottom.

So you can see as elevation decrease, potential energy decrease, kinetic energy increase and total energy conserved.

User Owen Wengerd
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