University Physics with Modern Physics (14th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321973615
ISBN 13: 978-0-32197-361-0

Chapter 6 - Work and Kinetic Energy - Problems - Discussion Questions - Page 194: Q6.11

Answer

The velocities are all different, but the kinetic energies are all the same.

Work Step by Step

Velocity is a vector that indicates both an object’s speed and its direction. The 3 objects are moving at the same speed of 5 m/s, but their directions differ, so they do not possess the same velocity. We know that kinetic energy is $K=\frac{1}{2}mv^2$. The 3 objects have the same mass and the same speed, so they each have the same kinetic energy of 18.75 J. Kinetic energy is a scalar, and the direction of the velocity doesn’t affect it.
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