As an object falls, how are kinetic and potential energy related?

Responses

1. The amount of potential energy and kinetic energy each will remain the same.

2. These are different forms of energy that will increase or decrease independent of each other.

3. Both potential energy and kinetic energy will increase equally as the object accelerates.

4. Potential energy will decrease in an amount equal to the increase in kinetic energy.

5. As the object falls, potential energy will decrease while kinetic energy will increase.

The correct answer is:

4. Potential energy will decrease in an amount equal to the increase in kinetic energy.

As an object falls, potential energy is converted into kinetic energy. As the object moves downward, potential energy decreases while kinetic energy increases. The decrease in potential energy is equal to the increase in kinetic energy.

The correct answer is option 4: Potential energy will decrease in an amount equal to the increase in kinetic energy.

Explanation:

When an object falls, its potential energy is converted to kinetic energy. As the object moves downward, its height decreases, resulting in a decrease in potential energy. At the same time, its velocity increases, leading to an increase in kinetic energy.

The relationship between potential energy (PE) and kinetic energy (KE) can be expressed by the law of conservation of energy, which states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted from one form to another. Therefore, the initial potential energy of the object will be transformed into an equal amount of kinetic energy once it starts falling.

Thus, potential energy decreases as kinetic energy increases, and the total mechanical energy (the sum of potential and kinetic energy) remains constant. This relationship is described by the equation: PE_initial = PE_final + KE_final.