Question

question 9 (4 points) listen in which of these scenarios would the law of conservation of energy apply? a sky diver has reached their terminal velocity. a fighter jet is taking off with its engines at full throttle. an asteroid crashes on venus, where there is a very thick atmosphere. an asteroid crashes on mercury, where there is no atmosphere.

Explanation:

The law of conservation of energy (energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed) applies to isolated systems (no external forces/energy inputs).

• A sky diver at terminal velocity: Air resistance (external force) balances gravity, so energy is transferred to heat due to air resistance (not isolated).
• Fighter jet taking off: Engines add energy (external input), so not isolated.
• Asteroid on Venus: Thick atmosphere means air resistance (energy lost to heat, sound, etc., external force), not isolated.
• Asteroid on Mercury: No atmosphere, so the system (asteroid + Mercury) is isolated (only gravitational interaction, energy transforms between kinetic and potential, no external energy loss/gain).

Answer:

D. An asteroid crashes on Mercury, where there is no atmosphere.