Question

Two objects are being lifted by a machine. One object has a mass of 2 kg, and is lifted at a speed of 2 m/s. The other has a mass of 4 kg and is lifted at a rate of 3 m/s. What does this tell you about the variable(s) that impact kinetic energy?

Answer 1

The variable that impacts kinetic energy is velocity, not mass.

The kinetic energy of an object is given by the formula KE = (1/2)mv^2, where m is the mass of the object and v is its velocity. From the given information, we can calculate the kinetic energy of each object as follows:

Object 1: KE = (1/2) x 2 kg x (2 m/s)^2 = 4 J

Object 2: KE = (1/2) x 4 kg x (3 m/s)^2 = 18 J

Comparing the two objects, we can see that the kinetic energy of the second object is greater than that of the first, even though its mass is greater. This is because the second object is being lifted at a faster rate (i.e., greater velocity) than the first object. Therefore, the variable that impacts kinetic energy in this scenario is velocity, not mass.

Step-by-step explanation:

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