A baseball is thrown into the air as shown below.

Question

Which is true about the total energy at point S?

(1 point)
Responses

At point S, the total energy is half of the system’s total energy, as kinetic energy was destroyed.
At point S, the total energy is half of the system’s total energy, as kinetic energy was destroyed.

At point S, the total energy is equal to the total energy of the system because energy kinetic energy has been transformed to potential energy.
At point S, the total energy is equal to the total energy of the system because energy kinetic energy has been transformed to potential energy.

At point S, the total energy is three times the total energy of the system, as kinetic energy was increased.
At point S, the total energy is three times the total energy of the system, as kinetic energy was increased.

At point S, the total energy is double the total energy of the system, as new energy is created as the potential energy increases.
At point S, the total energy is double the total energy of the system, as new energy is created as the potential energy increases.

Answer 1

The correct response is:

At point S, the total energy is equal to the total energy of the system because kinetic energy has been transformed to potential energy.

In an ideal system (ignoring air resistance and other losses), the total mechanical energy (the sum of kinetic and potential energy) remains constant. As the baseball is thrown into the air, its kinetic energy is converted into potential energy as it rises. Therefore, at point S, which is likely at the peak of the throw, the total energy remains the same, as it is just in a different form.