Final answer:
Gravitational potential energy is the energy of an object due to its position or height above Earth's surface. The ball on the right has more gravitational potential energy because it is positioned higher in Earth's gravitational field. This energy can transform into kinetic energy when the object falls.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Gravitational Potential Energy
The energy of an object due to its height above Earth's surface is known as gravitational potential energy. This form of energy is part of the energy system consisting of the Earth and the object itself. In the context provided, the ball on the right has more gravitational potential energy than the ball on the left because it is higher in Earth's gravitational field. The higher an object is, the greater the potential energy in the Earth-object system, as potential energy is directly proportional to the height of the object within the gravitational field.
Potential energy is important in many real-world situations, such as understanding the behavior of a football in motion or the impact a bowling ball might have when dropped from a height. The potential energy of an object can be converted into other forms of energy, such as kinetic energy, as it falls towards the Earth. This conversion is represented by the equation Ep = m*g*h, where 'm' is mass, 'g' is the acceleration due to gravity, and 'h' is the height above the reference level. In this case, because gravitational potential energy depends on relative position, selecting a reference level is necessary for calculations, typically Earth's surface.
Gravitational potential energy plays a crucial role in various phenomena, from the simple act of a soccer ball being kicked into the air to the principles governing electric fields and potentials. Just like a gravitational field, an electric field also witnesses a potential energy variation with the distance between charges, similar to the variation of gravitational potential energy with height relative to Earth.