Final answer:
The potential energy of a 3 kg ball on the ground is 0 joules, as it has no height above the reference point which results in no potential energy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The potential energy of an object is calculated using the formula G.P.E. = mgh, where m is the mass in kilograms, g is the acceleration due to gravity (on Earth approximately 9.81 m/s², but often rounded to 10 m/s² for simplicity), and h is the height above a reference point in meters. However, since the ball in question is on the ground, its height (h) is zero. Given that potential energy is directly proportional to height, if the height is zero, the potential energy is also zero, regardless of the ball's mass or the value of gravitational acceleration.
Therefore, the potential energy of a 3 kg ball on the ground is 0 joules.