Problem 7-49 (b) Energy cons. - C

A river is flowing with a speed of 3.74m/s just upstream from a waterfall of vertical height 8.74m. During each second 7.12×104kg of water pass over the fall.

(a) [We will ignore this part]
(b) If there is complete conversion of gravitational potential energy to kinetic energy, what is the speed of the water at the bottom of the fall?

(Note: This is actually an unrealistic assumption; some of the energy in the fall will be converted into heat)


Correct!

If all potential energy is converted to kinetic energy then:

(A)  (EK+EP)top=(EP)bottom

(B)  (EK+EP)top=(EK)bottom

(C)  (EK+EP)top=(EK+EP)bottom