Question

An investigation is set up to study the transformation between the kinetic and potential energy of a ball on a ramp.



1. Place the ball at the top of the ramp.

2. Release the ball so it travels down the ramp.

3. Record data.



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What data should be recorded to study the transformation between the kinetic and potential energy of the ball?



A.
mass of ramp, mass of the ball, velocity of ball at bottom of ramp

B.
mass of ball, height of ramp, velocity of ball at bottom of ramp

C.
mass of ramp, height of ramp, velocity of ball at top of ramp

D.
mass of ball, height of ramp, velocity of ball at top of ramp

Answer 1

B

You need the ball's mass (m) and the ramp height (h) to calculate gravitational potential energy (mgh) and the ball's velocity at the bottom (v) to calculate kinetic energy (½mv²). The ramp's mass and the ball's initial velocity (zero at release) are not relevant.