General Science • PhysicsMedium
According to the principle of conservation of mechanical energy, what happens to an object in a free fall in a vacuum?
A. Potential energy increases while kinetic energy decreases
B. Kinetic energy increases while potential energy decreases, keeping total mechanical energy constant✓ Correct Answer
C. Both kinetic and potential energies remain constant
D. Total mechanical energy decreases due to gravitational pull
💡 Solution & Explanation
During free fall in a vacuum, mechanical energy remains conserved because gravitational potential energy transforms into kinetic energy at an equivalent rate without any frictional losses. Other options incorrectly suggest that mechanical energy changes or that both energy forms remain constant despite acceleration.
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