Final answer:
If the speed of a particle is quartered, its kinetic energy changes by a factor of 1/16.
Step-by-step explanation:
The kinetic energy of a particle is given by the equation:
Kinetic Energy = 1/2 * mass * speed2
If the speed of a particle is quartered, its new speed will be 1/4 of the original speed. Therefore, the new kinetic energy can be calculated as:
New Kinetic Energy = 1/2 * mass * (1/4 * original speed)2 = 1/32 * mass * original speed2
Comparing the new and original kinetic energies:
New Kinetic Energy / Original Kinetic Energy = (1/32 * mass * original speed2) / (1/2 * mass * original speed2) = 1/16
Therefore, if the speed of a particle is quartered, its kinetic energy changes by a factor of 1/16.