Question

Prove that the kinetic energy of a freely falling object on reaching the ground is nothing but the transformation of its initial potential energy.

Answer 1

The form of energy can neither be destroyed nor be created. To accelerate any object, we need to apply force. We need to do work when, if we need to apply for work. The energy will get transferred when the work is done on the body. The transferred energy is called Kinetic energy. The stored energy of the object is called Potential energy.

Complete answer:
Before answering the question, we need to know what is potential energy and kinetic energy. We know that an object can only store energy as the result of the position of the object. The energy due to the position that is related to the objects that would stress within itself, or its electric charge or other factors is called Potential energy. The energy that would measure the work that an object can do by the virtue of its position is called Kinetic energy.
Let’s answer the question. When a freely falling object, its potential energy gets converted into kinetic energy. When the object hits the ground, the energy will get back into its initial potential energy. When falling to the ground the potential energy of the object decreases, kinetic energy increases. On reaching the ground, the kinetic energy decreases, and potential energy increases.
Therefore, it can be concluded that the free-falling object has kinetic energy but when on reaching the ground it is nothing but the transformation of the initial potential energy. It is because the mass of an object can never be equal to zero.

Note:
While falling into the ground, the energy can be deformed depending upon the nature of the ground, and the amount of kinetic energy that the object possesses. Finally, kinetic energy is nothing but the energy that not only depends on the motion but also depends on the mass on it and potential energy that will depend upon the relative position of the various parts of the system.