Asked by shawm

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.
kinetic energy

B.
mass

C.
speed

D.
potential energy

All Answers 1

Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
D. potential energy

Explanation: gravitational potential energy U = mgh is directly proportional to height, so a plot of U vs. height is a straight line through the origin. Mass would be constant (flat line), speed varies as sqrt(h) (not linear), and kinetic energy for a rolling cart need not be simply linear with height (rotational energy share), so potential energy is the best fit.