Question

A person throws a ball up into the air. At which point in its path will the ball have the greatest potential energy?
A. When the ball leaves the person’s hand
B. When the ball is still rising
C. When the ball hits the ground
D. When the ball reaches its highest point

Answer 1

The ball will have the greatest potential energy at the highest point of its path. At this point, the ball's height is maximum, and potential energy is given by the formula \( PE = mgh \), where \( m \) is the mass of the ball, \( g \) is the acceleration due to gravity, and \( h \) is the height above the ground.

Therefore, the correct answer is:

**D. When the ball reaches its highest point**