as an unread romance novel falls off the top of a building it speeds up until it hits the ground. as the…

as an unread romance novel falls off the top of a building it speeds up until it hits the ground. as the book is falling its kinetic energy ___, its potential energy ___, and its total energy ___. neglect the effects of air resistance. a increases; decreases; increases b increases; decreases; decreases c decreases; increases; is constant d increases; decreases; is constant
Answer
Explanation:
Step1: Recall energy - conservation principle without air - resistance
When the book falls from the top of the building, its height (h) decreases. The gravitational potential energy is given by (U = mgh) (where (m) is mass, (g) is the acceleration due to gravity and (h) is height), so the potential energy decreases.
Step2: Analyze kinetic energy
As the book falls, its speed (v) increases. The kinetic energy is given by (K=\frac{1}{2}mv^{2}), so the kinetic energy increases.
Step3: Analyze total energy
Since there is no air - resistance, the total mechanical energy (E = K + U) is conserved.
Answer:
A. increases; decreases; is constant