Which of the following option is right if an object fall freely to the ground?1. The total energy is Kinetic 2. The ratio of potential energy to kinetic ene...
Which of the following option is right if an object fall freely to the ground?1. The total energy is Kinetic
2. The ratio of potential energy to kinetic energy is constant
3. The sum of potential and kinetic is constant
Answer Details
The correct option is "3 only".
When an object falls freely towards the ground, it experiences a gravitational force that accelerates it downwards. This force does work on the object, converting its potential energy into kinetic energy as it gains speed. At the same time, the object loses potential energy as it moves closer to the ground.
According to the law of conservation of energy, the total energy of a closed system remains constant. In this case, the object-earth system is the closed system, and there are only two types of energy present: potential energy (due to the object's position in the gravitational field) and kinetic energy (due to the object's motion).
Therefore, as the object falls freely towards the ground, its potential energy decreases while its kinetic energy increases. However, the sum of the two energies remains constant. This means that is correct.
is incorrect because the total energy of the object-earth system is not just kinetic energy. is also incorrect because the ratio of potential energy to kinetic energy is not constant - it changes as the object falls.