Question
A ball is dropped from the top of a building.
When does the ball have the most potential energy?
When does the ball have the most potential energy?
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The ball has the most potential energy when it is at the top of the building, just before it is dropped. Potential energy is given by the formula:
\[
PE = mgh
\]
where \(PE\) is the potential energy, \(m\) is the mass of the ball, \(g\) is the acceleration due to gravity, and \(h\) is the height above the ground. Since the height \(h\) is greatest at the top of the building, the potential energy is also at its maximum at that point. As the ball falls, its height decreases, and thus its potential energy decreases as well.
\[
PE = mgh
\]
where \(PE\) is the potential energy, \(m\) is the mass of the ball, \(g\) is the acceleration due to gravity, and \(h\) is the height above the ground. Since the height \(h\) is greatest at the top of the building, the potential energy is also at its maximum at that point. As the ball falls, its height decreases, and thus its potential energy decreases as well.