Suppose an acorn with a mass of 3.17 g falls off a tree. At a particular moment during the fall, the acorn has a kinetic energy of 0.299 J and a potential energy of 0.167 J with respect to the ground.

How does the acorn's potential and kinetic energy change as it falls?

a. Both potential and kinetic energy decrease.

b. Polential encrgy increases and kinetic energy decreases.

c. Potential energy decreases and kinetic energy increases.

d. Both potential and kinetic energy increase.

As the acorn's potential and kinetic energy falls, both potential and kinetic energy decrease.

First, when the acorn is at the top of the tree, the potential energy is at maximum (object at rest at this point) while the kinetic energy is zero (Object is not accelerating.

As the acorn falls down the tree, the height during the ball decreases as well as the potential energy while the kinetic energy increases (energy due to motion)

On the ground, the height will be zero, and both the kinetic and potential energy is zero. This shows that both potential and kinetic energy decrease as the object falls.

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Option A is correct

Explanation:

Potential energy of acorn is due to its position i.e height and kinetic energy Is due to velocity or speed with which it is moving. When the acorn is at tree, its potential energy is maximum and kinetic energy is zero. While it starts moving downward, the height starts reducing and the speed increase. Thus potential energy reduces and kinetic energy increases.  

But as it touches the ground, its kinetic energy becomes zero as speed is zero and potential energy also becomes zero as height is zero.  

Thus, option A is correct