A flowerpot of mass m, initially at rest, falls a distance h to the ground below. In the absence of air resistance, the graph that best represents the flowerpot's mechanical energy as a function of the distance fallen is
A) a straight line with a negative slope.
B) a straight line with a positive slope.
C) a vertical line.
D) a horizontal line.
E) a parabola.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The mechanical energy (sum of potential and kinetic energy) of the flowerpot remains constant as it falls, assuming no air resistance. This is because the loss in potential energy is exactly equal to the gain in kinetic energy.

A Flowerpot of Mass M, Initially at Rest, Falls a Distance