Chemistry: The Central Science (13th Edition)

Published by Prentice Hall
ISBN 10: 0321910419
ISBN 13: 978-0-32191-041-7

Chapter 5 - Thermochemistry - Exercises - Page 202: 5.1c

Answer

The heavier book would have more kinetic energy.

Work Step by Step

When objects fall they are all acted upon by gravity and accelerated at the same rate (9.81 $m/s^2$). If a heavenlier book fell from the same shelf, it would have the same velocity before striking the floor but since Kinetic Energy = 1/2 $mv^2$, the velocity would be the same but the mass would be larger so it would have more Kinetic Energy
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