Question

an airplane carries 320 passengers from phoenix to los angeles flying at an average speed of 490 miles per hour. on the return flight, the plane carries 164 passengers and travels at the same average speed. what happens to the planes kinetic energy? (1 point) the planes kinetic energy is changed to potential energy when it lands. on the return flight, the plane has less kinetic energy. the planes kinetic energy is the same on both flights. on the return flight, the plane has more kinetic energy.

Explanation:

The formula for kinetic energy is \(K=\frac{1}{2}mv^{2}\), where \(m\) is mass and \(v\) is velocity. The speed \(v\) is the same for both flights. But the mass \(m\) (which includes the mass of passengers) is less on the return flight (\(320>164\)). Since \(K\) is directly proportional to \(m\) (when \(v\) is constant), a smaller \(m\) means less kinetic energy.

Answer:

On the return flight, the plane has less kinetic energy.