Question

Two Great Snipe birds are migrating. Both birds have a mass of 100 grams and are flying at 90 kilometers per hour. Bird R is flying 2.0 km above the ground, and Bird Q is flying 2.5 km above the ground.

Based on the information above, which statement best describes the energy of the two birds?

A. Bird Q has more potential energy than Bird R.
B. Bird R has more kinetic energy than Bird Q.
C. Bird Q has more total energy than Bird R.
D. Bird R has more kinetic and potential energy than Bird Q.

Answer 1

The two migrating Great Snipe birds have the same kinetic energy due to their identical masses and speeds, but Bird Q, flying at a higher altitude, has more potential energy, making statement A the correct choice: Bird Q has more potential energy than Bird R.

Step-by-step explanation:

The energy of two Great Snipe birds migrating can be understood in terms of kinetic energy and potential energy. Both birds have the same mass (100 grams) and are flying at the same speed (90 kilometers per hour), indicating that their kinetic energy is the same since kinetic energy is a function of mass and velocity and both of these are identical for Bird R and Bird Q. However, potential energy differs due to the altitude at which each bird flies. Potential energy is calculated based on an object's mass, the acceleration due to gravity, and its height above the ground. As Bird Q is flying at a higher altitude (2.5 km above the ground) compared to Bird R (2.0 km above the ground), Bird Q will have more potential energy.

Therefore, the statement that best describes the energy of the two birds is: A. Bird Q has more potential energy than Bird R. While their kinetic energy is the same, the additional 0.5 km of altitude contributes to Bird Q having a greater potential energy and thus, more total energy as well.