Understanding the Relationship between Kinetic and Potential Energy in Freefall

[bohobelle]

Homework Statement

You drop a ball from a high balcony and it falls freely. Does the ball's kinetic energy increase by equal amounts in equal time intervals, or by equal amounts in equal distances? Explain.

Homework Equations

KE = 1/2mv^2
PE = mgy
Conservation of energy: Emech = KE + PE; Esys = Emech + Eth

The Attempt at a Solution

I think that it increases by equal amounts in equal distances, seeing as potential energy has to do with height. I'm just not sure how to explain it?
Thanks :)

 

[PhanthomJay]

Homework Statement

You drop a ball from a high balcony and it falls freely. Does the ball's kinetic energy increase by equal amounts in equal time intervals, or by equal amounts in equal distances? Explain.

Homework Equations

KE = 1/2mv^2
PE = mgy
Conservation of energy: Emech = KE + PE; Esys = Emech + Eth

The Attempt at a Solution

I think that it increases by equal amounts in equal distances, seeing as potential energy has to do with height. I'm just not sure how to explain it?
Thanks :)

You are correct. You should write out the conservation of mechanical energy equation which you haven't done yet, that relates the change in KE with the change in PE.
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