To determine why the skateboarder has the greatest potential energy at point A, we need to recall the concept of gravitational potential energy (PE). The formula for gravitational potential energy is given by:
\[ PE = mgh \]
where:
- \( m \) = mass of the object (in this case, the skateboarder),
- \( g \) = acceleration due to gravity (approximately \( 9.81 , m/s^2 \)),
- \( h \) = height above a reference point (usually the ground).
From this formula, we can see that potential energy depends directly on the height (h) of the skateboarder above the reference point.
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Height at Point A: If point A is the highest point in the course, then the skateboarder has the greatest height (h) there. This means that according to the formula, the potential energy will be maximized because Height is the key factor.
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Comparison with Other Points: If there are other points (B, C, etc.) at lower elevations compared to point A, the height (h) at those points would be less than at point A. Thus, their potential energy would also be lower.
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Gravitational Influence: Since the force of gravity is constant (g), the only variable that changes potential energy as the skateboarder moves along the course is the height above the ground.
In summary, the skateboarder has the greatest potential energy at point A because it is the highest point in the given scenario, resulting in the maximum value of height (h) in the potential energy formula, while the mass remains constant.