What happens to total energy in a falling object ignoring air resistance?

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Multiple Choice

What happens to total energy in a falling object ignoring air resistance?

The main idea is energy conservation in a gravity field without air resistance. Gravity is a conservative force, so the total mechanical energy (potential plus kinetic) stays the same. As the object falls, its height decreases, so gravitational potential energy mgh decreases. That lost potential energy shows up as kinetic energy, increasing 1/2 mv^2, so the sum (K + U) remains constant. If you start from rest, you begin with all energy as potential, and as you fall, that energy shifts into kinetic. That’s why the description that total energy stays constant with potential transforming into kinetic is the best answer.

The main idea is energy conservation in a gravity field without air resistance. Gravity is a conservative force, so the total mechanical energy (potential plus kinetic) stays the same. As the object falls, its height decreases, so gravitational potential energy mgh decreases. That lost potential energy shows up as kinetic energy, increasing 1/2 mv^2, so the sum (K + U) remains constant. If you start from rest, you begin with all energy as potential, and as you fall, that energy shifts into kinetic. That’s why the description that total energy stays constant with potential transforming into kinetic is the best answer.

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