1. Which is the best description of potential energy? (1 point) 2. Nan’s suitcase has a mass of 14 kilograms. How much potential energy does it gain when she lifts it onto a bench that is 40 centimeters tall? PE=mgh 3. A baseball is sitting on a raised bench. A player accidentally knocks the baseball off the bench. Which statement best describes what will happen to baseball’s energy during its fall? 4. Nan’s suitcase is on a bench. The suitcase has a mass of 14 kilograms. Nan accidentally knocks the suitcase off the bench, and the suitcase falls at a speed of 2.7 meters per second. How much kinetic energy does the suitcase have just before it hits the floor? KE=1/2mv^2 5.

Question

1. Which is the best description of potential energy? (1 point) 2. Nan’s suitcase has a mass of 14 kilograms. How much potential energy does it gain when she lifts it onto a bench that is 40 centimeters tall? PE=mgh 3. A baseball is sitting on a raised bench. A player accidentally knocks the baseball off the bench. Which statement best describes what will happen to baseball’s energy during its fall? 4. Nan’s suitcase is on a bench. The suitcase has a mass of 14 kilograms. Nan accidentally knocks the suitcase off the bench, and the suitcase falls at a speed of 2.7 meters per second. How much kinetic energy does the suitcase have just before it hits the floor? KE=1/2mv^2 5.

Answer 1

Potential energy refers to the energy that an object possesses due to its position or state, while kinetic energy refers to the energy that an object possesses due to its motion.

2. The potential energy gained by Nan's suitcase can be calculated using the formula PE = mgh, where m is the mass (14 kg), g is the acceleration due to gravity (which is approximately 9.8 m/s^2), and h is the height (40 cm or 0.4 m). Therefore, the potential energy gained by the suitcase is PE = 14 kg * 9.8 m/s^2 * 0.4 m = 54.72 joules.

3. During the baseball's fall, its potential energy will decrease while its kinetic energy will increase. As the baseball falls, it loses height and, therefore, potential energy. At the same time, it gains speed, leading to an increase in its kinetic energy.

4. The kinetic energy of the suitcase just before it hits the floor can be calculated using the formula KE = 1/2mv^2, where m is the mass (14 kg) and v is the speed (2.7 m/s). Therefore, the kinetic energy of the suitcase is KE = 1/2 * 14 kg * (2.7 m/s)^2 = 102.06 joules.