The potential energy of an object depends on its height above a reference point and its mass, as given by the formula:
\[ PE = mgh \]
where:
- \( PE \) is the potential energy,
- \( m \) is the mass of the object,
- \( g \) is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately \( 9.81 , \text{m/s}^2 \) near the Earth's surface), and
- \( h \) is the height above the reference point.
To compare the potential energy of a basketball and a tennis ball, you need to consider both the mass of each ball and the height from which they are being measured.
Mass:
- A standard basketball weighs about 0.6 kg (600 grams).
- A standard tennis ball weighs about 0.058 kg (58 grams).
Assuming both balls are at the same height, the basketball will have significantly more mass and therefore more potential energy due to its larger \( m \) value.
Height: If both balls are at the same height, the basketball will still have a higher potential energy because its mass is greater.
In summary, under equal height conditions, the basketball has more potential energy than the tennis ball due to its larger mass.
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