Final answer:
The velocity at which the pumpkin will hit the ground is primarily affected by air resistance and gravity, and is calculated using the kinematic equation v = √(2gh). This velocity is independent of the pumpkin's mass but may be influenced by air friction in real-life scenarios. For the apple example with 10 J of potential energy, the fallen apple's velocity just before ground impact would be 10 m/s using the kinematic equation v = √(2PE/m).
Step-by-step explanation:
The velocity with which the pumpkin will hit the ground is affected by air resistance and the acceleration due to gravity. If the question allows us to ignore air resistance and assumes Earth's gravity, then we'd use the kinematic equation v = √(2gh), where v is the final velocity, g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s²), and h is the height from which the pumpkin is dropped. This equation indicates that the final velocity is independent of the mass of the pumpkin and depends only on the height from which it is dropped and the acceleration due to gravity. However, in a case where air resistance cannot be ignored, air friction would also play a role in determining the final velocity of the pumpkin.
In the example provided with a 0.2 kg apple having a potential energy (PE) of 10 J just before falling, we can use the kinematic equation PE = ½ mv² to find the velocity of the apple just before it hits the ground. Solving for v gives us v = √(2PE/m), which would yield the velocity of the apple being √(2*10/0.2) = √100 = 10 m/s just before impact.