A bird is flying with a speed of 18.0 m/s over water when it accidentally drops a 2.00 kg fish. If the altitude of the bird is 5.40 m and friction is ignored, what is the kinetic energy of the fish when it hits the water?

Here we go.
My abbreviations; KE = Kinetic Energy; GPE = Gravitational Potential Energy.

So first off, we know the fish has KE right when the bird releases it. Why? Because it has horizontal velocity after released! So let’s calculate it:
KE = 1/2(m)(V)^2
KE = 1/2(2)(18)^2
KE = 324 J

Nice!
We also know that the fish has GPE at its maximum height before release:
GPE = mgh
GPE = (2)(9.81)(5.40)
GPE = 105.95 J

Now, based on the *queue dramatic voice* LAW OF CONSERVATION OF ENERGY, we know all of the initial energy of the fish will be equal to the amount of final energy. And since the only form of energy when it hits the water is KE, we can write:
KEi + GPEi = KEf
(Remember - we found the initial energies before!)
(324) + (105.95) = KEf
KEf = 429.95J
And that’s you’re final answer! Notice how this value is MORE than the initial KE from before (324 J) - this is because all of the initial GPE from before was transformed into more KE as the fish fell (h decreased) and sped up (V increased).

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