Question

A ramp 1.2 meters long rests on a level table with one end elevated 0.4 meters above the table surface. A steel ball starts at the elevated end of the ramp and rolls down the ramp through a velocimeter. If the ball has a mass of 0.045 kg, what is the ball's potential energy at the top of the ramp?

1) 0.18 J
2) 0.45 J
3) 0.54 J
4) 12 J

Answer 1

The ball's potential energy at the top of the ramp is approximately 0.1764 J, so the closest answer from the given options is 0.18 J, which is option 1).

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the potential energy of the steel ball at the top of the ramp, we can use the formula for gravitational potential energy, which is given by PE = mgh, where m is the mass of the object, g is acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s² on Earth's surface), and h is the height above the reference point.

Given that the mass m of the ball is 0.045 kg and the height h at which the ball starts is 0.4 meters, we can substitute these values into the formula along with the standard acceleration due to gravity:

PE = (0.045 kg)(9.8 m/s²)(0.4 m)

PE = 0.1764 J

Since our calculations have given us a potential energy of approximately 0.1764 J, the closest answer from the choices provided would be 0.18 J, which corresponds to option 1).