A small ball is released from rest from the top of a tall building and allowed to…
PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Mechanics and materials · Mechanics and materials
Problem
A small ball is released from rest from the top of a tall building and allowed to fall freely under gravity.
(i) State the law of conservation of energy.
(ii) Using the law stated in part (i), explain qualitatively how the gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy of the ball change as it falls, assuming air resistance is negligible.
(iii) Sketch and label a qualitative graph showing the variation of gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy with height for the ball during its fall.
(iv) What happens to the total mechanical energy of the ball while it is falling? Give a reason for your answer.