A steel wrecking ball is suspended from a crane and released from rest. It swings downwards towards a brick wall.
Complete the sentences. Choose answers from the box.
elastic potentialgravitational potentialkineticchemical \text{elastic potential} \quad \text{gravitational potential} \quad \text{kinetic} \quad \text{chemical} elastic potentialgravitational potentialkineticchemicalAs the wrecking ball swings downwards, there is a decrease in its _________________ energy.
As the wrecking ball swings downwards, there is an increase in its _________________ energy.
Write down the equation which links kinetic energy (EkE_kEk), mass (mmm), and speed (vvv).
At the lowest point of its swing, just before it hits the wall, the kinetic energy of the wrecking ball is 14400 J14400\text{ J}14400 J.
The speed of the wrecking ball is 12.0 m/s12.0\text{ m/s}12.0 m/s.
Calculate the mass of the wrecking ball.
When the wrecking ball impacts the brick wall, most of its kinetic energy is transferred to the wall and its surroundings.
How does this affect the thermal energy of the wall and surroundings?