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NDA 2026
Exam
NDA
Year
2026
Subject
General Ability
Chapter
General Science

NDA 2026 · General Ability · General Science

A ball is dropped from rest from height h above the ground in frame...

A ball is dropped from rest from height hh above the ground in frame SS (the Earth's frame). Another frame S′S' is moving upwards with constant speed uu relative to the Earth. In frame S′S', the ball has initial downward speed vv. Pertaining to the change in kinetic energy (ΔK)(\Delta K) of the ball from release to just before hitting the ground as measured in frames SS and S′S' separately, which one of the following is correct?

Options

  1. AΔK\Delta K is the same in both the frames.
  2. BΔK\Delta K is larger in frame SS.
  3. CΔK\Delta K is larger in frame S′S'.
  4. DΔK\Delta K cannot be compared without the information of mass of the ball.

Correct answer

C. ΔK\Delta K is larger in frame S′S'.

Step-by-step solution

In frame SS (Earth's frame):

Initial velocity of the ball, vi=0v_{i} = 0

Final velocity of the ball just before hitting the ground, vf=2ghv_{f} = \sqrt{2gh} (downwards)

Change in kinetic energy in frame SS is:

ΔKS=12mvf2−12mvi2=12m(2gh)−0=mgh\Delta K_{S} = \dfrac{1}{2} m v_{f}^2 - \dfrac{1}{2} m v_{i}^2 = \dfrac{1}{2} m (2gh) - 0 = mgh

In frame S′S' (moving upwards with constant speed uu):

Initial velocity of the ball, vi′=u=vv'_{i} = u = v (downwards)

Final velocity of the ball, vf′=2gh+vv'_{f} = \sqrt{2gh} + v (downwards)

Change in kinetic energy in frame S′S' is:

ΔKS′=12m(vf′)2−12m(vi′)2\Delta K_{S'} = \dfrac{1}{2} m (v'_{f})^2 - \dfrac{1}{2} m (v'_{i})^2

ΔKS′=12m(2gh+v)2−12mv2\Delta K_{S'} = \dfrac{1}{2} m (\sqrt{2gh} + v)^2 - \dfrac{1}{2} m v^2

ΔKS′=12m(2gh+v2+2v2gh)−12mv2\Delta K_{S'} = \dfrac{1}{2} m (2gh + v^2 + 2v\sqrt{2gh}) - \dfrac{1}{2} m v^2

ΔKS′=mgh+mv2gh\Delta K_{S'} = mgh + mv\sqrt{2gh}

Comparing the two expressions, we get ΔKS′=ΔKS+mv2gh\Delta K_{S'} = \Delta K_{S} + mv\sqrt{2gh}.

Since m,v,g,hm, v, g, h are all positive quantities, ΔKS′>ΔKS\Delta K_{S'} > \Delta K_{S}.

Therefore, the change in kinetic energy is larger in frame S′S'.

Answer: ΔK\Delta K is larger in frame S′S'.
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