---
title: "An apple is released from rest \\(500 \\, \\text{m}\\) above the ground. Due to the combined forces of air resistance and gravity, it has a speed of \\(40 \\, \\text{m/s}\\) when it reaches the ground. What percentage of the initial mechanical energy of the apple–Earth system was dissipated due to air resistance? Take the potential energy of the apple–Earth system to be zero when the apple reaches the ground."
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/69442/"
date_modified: "2025-10-04T02:59:52+00:00"
---

# An apple is released from rest \(500 \, \text{m}\) above the ground. Due to the combined forces of air resistance and gravity, it has a speed of \(40 \, \text{m/s}\) when it reaches the ground. What percentage of the initial mechanical energy of the apple–Earth system was dissipated due to air resistance? Take the potential energy of the apple–Earth system to be zero when the apple reaches the ground.

An apple is released from rest \(500 \, \text{m}\) above the ground. Due to the combined forces of air resistance and gravity, it has a speed of \(40 \, \text{m/s}\) when it reaches the ground. What percentage of the initial mechanical energy of the apple–Earth system was dissipated due to air resistance? Take the potential energy of the apple–Earth system to be zero when the apple reaches the ground.

- **A.** \(16%\)
- **B.** \(40%\)
- **C.** \(60%\)
- **D.** \(84%\)
- **E.** Can’t be determined

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/69442/*