Compare the potential energy of a 5 lb ball at the top of a 5 foot hill and a 5 lb ball at the top of a 10 foot hill.

Question 4 options:

Their potential energies are the same because they have the same mass.


The ball at the top of the 5 foot hill has more potential energy.


The ball at the top of the 5 foot hill has less potential energy.


Potential energy doesn't depend on a object's relative height.

Respuesta :

Potential energy is the energy possessed by a body at rest while the kinetic energy is the energy possessed by a body in motion.
Potential energy is given by mass× gravitational acceleration × height
         That is energy = mgh
For the first ball the potential energy is 2.268 ×10 ×5 = 113.4 J (5 lb = 2.268 kg)
          The second ball with the same mass will have 2.268 ×10 ×10 = 226.8 J
Thus, the potential energy is dependent on the height of a given body and therefore the ball at the 5 foot hill has less potential energy.