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Multiple Choice
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates kinetic energy in everyday life?
A
A book resting on a table.
B
A light bulb turned off.
C
A compressed spring held in place.
D
A car moving at a constant speed on a highway.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the concept of kinetic energy. Kinetic energy is the energy that an object possesses due to its motion. It is given by the formula: , where is the mass of the object and is its velocity.
Step 2: Analyze each scenario to determine if kinetic energy is present. A book resting on a table has no motion, thus no kinetic energy. A light bulb turned off is not moving, so it also has no kinetic energy. A compressed spring held in place is not moving, so it does not have kinetic energy either.
Step 3: Consider the scenario of a car moving at a constant speed on a highway. The car is in motion, which means it has kinetic energy. The constant speed indicates that the velocity is not zero, contributing to the kinetic energy.
Step 4: Apply the kinetic energy formula to the car scenario. Since the car has mass and is moving with a certain velocity, it possesses kinetic energy. This aligns with the definition of kinetic energy as energy due to motion.
Step 5: Conclude that the scenario of a car moving at a constant speed on a highway best illustrates kinetic energy in everyday life, as it involves an object in motion, which is the key characteristic of kinetic energy.