Question

A player throws a baseball straight up so that the ball rises and then falls back down to the player’s hand. Which of the following changes will occur if the player throws the ball up higher and then catches it?(1 point)
Responses

The ball will have greater potential energy at the top of its path.
The ball will have greater potential energy at the top of its path.

The ball will have greater kinetic energy at the top of its path.
The ball will have greater kinetic energy at the top of its path.

The ball will have more potential energy than kinetic energy when it is half-way back down to the player’s hand.
The ball will have more potential energy than kinetic energy when it is half-way back down to the player’s hand.

The ball will have more kinetic energy than potential energy when it is half-way back down to the player’s hand.

Answer 1

If the player throws the ball up higher, the primary change that occurs is that **the ball will have greater potential energy at the top of its path.**

Potential energy is determined by the height of the object in relation to the ground. So, if the ball is thrown higher, it reaches a greater height, and therefore its potential energy at the top will increase.

The correct response is therefore:

**The ball will have greater potential energy at the top of its path.**