Question

An astronaut drops a 1.0 kg object and a 5.0 kg object on the Moon. Both objects fall a total distance of 2.0 m vertically. Which of the following bost describes the objects after they have fallen a distance of 1.0 m2

They have each gained one-half of their maximum kinetic energy
They have cach lost the same amount of potential energy
They have each gained the same amount of potential energy
They have each lost kinetic energy

Answer 1

When an object falls, its potential energy is converted into kinetic energy. Both objects lose the same amount of potential energy and gain the same amount of kinetic energy as they fall.

Step-by-step explanation:

When an object falls, its potential energy is converted into kinetic energy. The potential energy of an object is given by the formula PE = mgh, where m is the mass, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height. In this case, both objects fall a distance of 2.0 m, so they both lose the same amount of potential energy.

Since potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, the objects gain kinetic energy as they fall. The kinetic energy of an object is given by the formula KE = 0.5mv^2, where m is the mass and v is the velocity. The velocity of an object can be calculated using the formula v = √(2gh), where g is the acceleration due to gravity and h is the height.

Since both objects have the same initial height and fall the same distance, they will have the same final velocity and therefore the same final kinetic energy.