Asked by sara

A student examines the graph shown below comparing two properties of a single wheeled cart rolling along a ramp.

A graph has an untitled increasing y-axis and increasing height of a wheeled cart on the x-axis. A line begins at the origin and extends at a 45 degree agree for the length of the graph.

Based ONLY on this graph, which label should be used for the vertical (y) axis?

A.
potential energy

B.
speed

C.
mass

D.
kinetic energy

All Answers 1

Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
A. potential energy

Reason: Gravitational potential energy U = mgh is directly proportional to height h, giving a straight line through the origin. Mass is constant (not a function of height). Speed varies like v ∝ sqrt(h) (not linear), and kinetic energy depends on v^2, so it does not produce the simple linear relation shown.