Chapter 14, Problem 51A

To determine

The process of energy transfer with a throwing ball different from the energy transfer with a mechanical wave.

Answer to Problem 51A

While throwing a ball there is transfer of energy to the ball and it then moves and the mechanical wave requires some kind of initial energy and then the wave travels through the given medium till the whole amount of energy is transferred.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

The motion in any object takes place when there is some transfer of energy from one point to another. When a ball is thrown, the potential energy from the hand gets transferred to the ball and gets converted into kinetic energy. The energy gets transferred from one point to another through that ball.

Another way for this transfer is the motion of waves. The particles in the wave oscillate and carry energy from one point to another in that oscillatory pattern.

While throwing a ball there is transfer of energy to the ball and the ball moves. By doing work on the ball, an initial from of energy is transferred to it. Any object which moves has some kind of kinetic energy.

A mechanical wave is a wave that oscillates and hence it transfers the energy through a given medium. The mechanical waves transport the energy. The energy travels in one direction as the wave travels. The energy transfer that happens in the mechanical wave is in the form of crest and trough which has some oscillations attached to it.

The throwing of ball doesn’t have any wave motion attached to it. The energy from the hand get transferred to the ball but in case of mechanical energy the movement is in the wave from and the wave while travelling transfer energy through one point to another.

Conclusion:

The throwing of ball doesn’t involve and oscillation of the particles where as the mechanical wave transfers energy while oscillating.