I have to write a report on this topic. Can you please tell me what happens?
2007-08-20 16:05:25 · 11 answers · asked by JB 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
While you're holding the rock out before you drop it, it has potential energy determined by the mass of the rock and the height at which it is held. The moment you release the rock (releasing not throwing...that's different), gravity begins to accelerate the rock at -9.8 meters per (second squared). This acceleration continues until the rock is either moving so fast that the air resistance becomes so much that it prevents any further acceleration, in which case it has reached terminal velocity and will hold that constant descent speed until it reaches the ground, or until the rock just reaches the ground. Whether the rock is able to reach terminal velocity before it strikes the ground depends on the height from which the rock is dropped and the shape of the rock for resisting the air.
Once the rock hits the ground it will apply a force onto the ground and the ground will resist with equal force. The force will be equal to the rock's momentum which is determined by the mass of the rock times it's velocity at the instant that it strikes the ground. The ground will exert the exact amount of force against the impact of the rock as the rock exerted on the ground so the velocity of the rock will immediately become zero.
2007-08-20 16:15:42 · answer #1 · answered by pippinstar 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The potential energy of the rock (energy of position from holding the rock above the ground). As the rock falls (after you let it go), this potential energy is converted to kinetic energy. When the rock hits the ground, some of the kinetic energy is converted to heat and some of it is transferred to the ground.
2007-08-21 12:17:14 · answer #2 · answered by Wayne B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As an item is pulled away from the center of Earth it gains Potential Energy. Once your grip is lost from that item, Gravity will take over and release the Energy.
Look @ these 2 articles for some more details.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potential_energy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity
2007-08-20 23:14:39 · answer #3 · answered by mobile_wireless_news 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It usually lands on my foot, accelerating at 32 feet per second squared until it reaches a max of about 150 mph.
(I am veeeery tall)
2007-08-20 23:14:19 · answer #4 · answered by oldsalt 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
gravity will pull it down until another force or object (such as the ground) interfeers....i dont know how you write a whole report on that though haha...Good Luck!!
2007-08-20 23:13:42 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the gravititional force will acting on the rock. so the rock will falling on the ground based on the newton's law.
2007-08-20 23:10:53 · answer #6 · answered by peacemaker 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
gravity gravity pulls things to the ground if the rock hits hard enough it will break
2007-08-20 23:13:03 · answer #7 · answered by That guy 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I suppose it would depend on the type of rock
2007-08-21 00:52:15 · answer #8 · answered by dsgc05™ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In a world with positive gravity, it falls.
I don't know what happens in your world.
.
2007-08-20 23:11:28 · answer #9 · answered by Wise@ss 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
nothing happens
2007-08-20 23:12:50 · answer #10 · answered by cool girl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋