Question

After an ice storm, ice falls from one of the top floors of a 65-story building. The ice falls freely under the influence of gravity. Which one of the following statements concerning this situation is true?

Right answer: a) The kinetic energy of the ice increases by equal amounts for equal distances.

b) The kinetic energy of the ice increases by equal amounts for equal times.

c) The potential energy of the ices decreases by equal amounts for equal times.

d) The total energy of the block increases by equal amounts over equal distances.

e) As the block falls, the net work done by all of the forces acting on the ice is zero joules.

Please explain

Answer 1

Answer: a) The kinetic energy of the ice increases by equal amounts for equal distances.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to the law of conservation of energy which states that the total energy of an isolated system remain constant. That is energy cannot be created nor destroyed. Therefore as the ice falls from the top of the building the potential energy of the ice is converted gradually to kinetic energy of it motion.

∆K.E = ∆P.E = mg∆h

m = mass , g = acceleration due to gravity, ∆h = change in elevation

And given that the value of mg is constant, the change in kinetic energy will be directly proportional to the change in height (distance) as the ice falls down.

∆K.E = c∆h

Where c is the proportionality constant.

So, The kinetic energy of the ice increases by equal amounts for equal distances.