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 more kinetic energy than potential 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.
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.
Responses
The ball will have more kinetic energy than potential 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.
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.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Let's analyze each statement based on the principles of energy conservation and the conversion between potential energy (PE) and kinetic energy (KE) during the ball's flight.
1. **The ball will have more kinetic energy than potential energy when it is half-way back down to the player’s hand.**
- At the halfway point on the way down, the ball's kinetic energy will generally not be more than its potential energy because it is still descending from its highest point.
2. **The ball will have greater potential energy at the top of its path.**
- This statement is true. When the ball reaches its highest point, all the kinetic energy from the throw has been converted into potential energy. Therefore, if the player throws the ball higher, the potential energy at the top will also be greater.
3. **The ball will have greater kinetic energy at the top of its path.**
- This statement is false. At the top, the ball's speed is momentarily zero, so its kinetic energy is also zero.
4. **The ball will have more potential energy than kinetic energy when it is half-way back down to the player’s hand.**
- Since potential energy decreases and kinetic energy increases as the ball falls, at the halfway point back down, the energies will be roughly equal (ignoring air resistance). Thus, this statement is unlikely to hold true.
Given this analysis, the correct change that occurs if the player throws the ball higher is:
**The ball will have greater potential energy at the top of its path.**
1. **The ball will have more kinetic energy than potential energy when it is half-way back down to the player’s hand.**
- At the halfway point on the way down, the ball's kinetic energy will generally not be more than its potential energy because it is still descending from its highest point.
2. **The ball will have greater potential energy at the top of its path.**
- This statement is true. When the ball reaches its highest point, all the kinetic energy from the throw has been converted into potential energy. Therefore, if the player throws the ball higher, the potential energy at the top will also be greater.
3. **The ball will have greater kinetic energy at the top of its path.**
- This statement is false. At the top, the ball's speed is momentarily zero, so its kinetic energy is also zero.
4. **The ball will have more potential energy than kinetic energy when it is half-way back down to the player’s hand.**
- Since potential energy decreases and kinetic energy increases as the ball falls, at the halfway point back down, the energies will be roughly equal (ignoring air resistance). Thus, this statement is unlikely to hold true.
Given this analysis, the correct change that occurs if the player throws the ball higher is:
**The ball will have greater potential energy at the top of its path.**