Imagine that you are bowling. You release the ball and it travels down the lane and knocks all of the pins down. You have bowled a strike!
The bowling ball traveling down the lane is an example of kinetic energy. When the ball hit the pins and knocked them over, work was performed.
The kinetic energy of an object depends upon its mass and its velocity.
Imagine that you are bowling, but this time, you use a tennis ball to try to knock down the pins. You roll the bowling ball and the tennis ball at the same velocity, with the same force, and hit the pins in the exact same location.
Which ball would knock down more pins?
Interactive popup. Assistance may be required. the bowling ball
Were you correct? Click the "Roll" button below.
Based on what you learned during this exercise, complete the following conclusion.
Kinetic energy ________________ as mass increases.
Speed or velocity also affects kinetic energy. To make the bowling ball move faster, you have to throw it harder, or use greater force.
Two bowling balls with the same mass are released at different velocities and hit the pins in the same location. Which one would knock down more pins?
Were you correct? Click on the “Roll” button to see.
Based on what you learned during this exercise, complete the following conclusion.
Kinetic energy ________________ when velocity increases.
