As an object free falls, the object experiences a decrease in gravitational potential energy. Which must be true of the object in this system?Multiple choice question.The object must be experiencing a decrease in kinetic energy.The object must be experiencing an increase in kinetic energy.The object must be experiencing an increase in mechanical energy.The object must be experiencing a decrease in mechanical energy.
Question
As an object free falls, the object experiences a decrease in gravitational potential energy. Which must be true of the object in this system?Multiple choice question.The object must be experiencing a decrease in kinetic energy.The object must be experiencing an increase in kinetic energy.The object must be experiencing an increase in mechanical energy.The object must be experiencing a decrease in mechanical energy.
Solution
The correct answer is: The object must be experiencing an increase in kinetic energy.
Here's why:
As an object free falls, it is moving closer to the Earth, and thus its gravitational potential energy decreases. However, as it falls, it is also gaining speed - it's accelerating due to the force of gravity. This increase in speed means an increase in kinetic energy (the energy of motion).
So, as the gravitational potential energy decreases, the kinetic energy increases. This is due to the law of conservation of energy, which states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred or transformed. In this case, the energy is being transferred from potential energy to kinetic energy.
The total mechanical energy (the sum of kinetic and potential energy) of the object would remain constant if we neglect air resistance.
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