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Question
Ball A was carried to the top of a hill in a straight line, while ball B was carried in a longer, zigzag path. At the top of the hill, both balls were left at rest. A student draws a graph that depicts each ball's final potential energy. Which statement describes the final potential energy of the balls?(1 point)
Responses
Neither ball has any potential energy.
Neither ball has any potential energy.
Ball B has more potential energy.
Ball B has more potential energy.
Ball A has more potential energy.
Ball A has more potential energy.
Both balls have equal potential energy.
Both balls have equal potential energy.
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1 answer
The correct answer is: Both balls have equal potential energy.
Potential energy depends on the height above a reference point (usually ground level) and the mass of the object, not on the path taken to reach that height. Since both balls were brought to the same height at the top of the hill and are at rest, they will have the same potential energy, assuming they have the same mass.
