A student looks at the image of a ball rolling down a ramp. The image shows four different positions for the ball Use this image
to answer Questions 4–5 are attached.
2 answers:
The law of conservation of energy states that energy is always conserved, and cannot be destroyed.
At the top of the hill, the ball is at the maximum height. Because the equation for gravitational potential energy is ( = mgH), we can safely conclude that the GPE at A, the top of the hill, is the greatest in all 4 options.
Now, what about Kinetic Energy? Recall the law of conservation of energy. At the point where Gravitational Potential Energy is the lowest, Kinetic Energy will be the highest. Total energy is always conserved, and so it is logical that KE will increase to compensate for GPE decreasing. Therefore, we know that at point C, the ball will have the greatest Kinetic Energy. Because this point is the lowest point in the hill, the ball will have the lowest possible GPE and therefore the largest possible KE out of the 4 options.
4. A
5. C
If you're still confused or would like me to explain this further, just ask!
- breezyツ
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