Question

the data table below compares the speed of the baseball after contact when the bats mass and speed is changed. use this information to answer questions 1 - 3. what has the greatest effect on the amount of kinetic energy a moving object has? changes in bats mass: bat mass (g) speed of ball after contact (mph) 570 68 710 73 850 76 990 78 1140 80 changes in bats speed: bat swing speed (mph) speed of ball after contact (mph) 20 60 27 68 34 76 41 84 48 92 both mass and speed have an equal effect on the kinetic energy of a moving object mass has the greatest effect on the kinetic energy of a moving object. speed has the greatest effect on the kinetic energy of a moving object. neither mass nor speed affect the kinetic energy of a moving object

Explanation:

The formula for kinetic energy is \(KE=\frac{1}{2}mv^{2}\). From the formula, we can see that kinetic energy is directly proportional to mass (\(m\)) and the square of speed (\(v\)). When looking at the data tables:

• For the "Changes in bat's mass" table, as the mass of the bat increases, the speed of the ball after contact increases, but the increase is relatively small.
• For the "Changes in bat's speed" table, as the bat - swing speed increases, the speed of the ball after contact increases more significantly. Since \(KE\propto v^{2}\) (while \(KE\propto m\) only linearly), speed has a greater impact on kinetic energy.

Answer:

Speed has the greatest effect on the kinetic energy of a moving object.