The potential energy of an object is directly proportional to its height above a reference point. As the banana falls, its potential energy decreases while its kinetic energy increases.
At the top, when the banana is still at rest, all of its energy is potential energy and there is no kinetic energy. Therefore, option 4 is correct.
At the bottom, when the banana reaches the ground, all of its potential energy is converted to kinetic energy. Therefore, option 1 is also correct.
Between the top and bottom, there is a point where the potential and kinetic energies are equal. This happens at half of the total distance fallen. Therefore, option 2 is also correct.
Option 3, a quarter of the way down, is not mentioned as a point where the potential and kinetic energies are equal.
If a monkey drops a banana off of a cliff, where are the potential and kinetic energies of the banana equal.
1. At the bottom
2. Half way down
3. A quarter of the way down
4. At the top
1 answer