Final answer:
The type of energy portrayed when Barry Bonds swings a bat with a mass of 1.5 kg at a velocity of 55 m/s is kinetic energy, as it is in motion.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Barry Bonds swings a bat which has a mass of 1.5 kg at a velocity of 55 m/s, the type of energy portrayed in this example is kinetic energy. Kinetic energy is the energy possessed by an object due to its motion. The formula to calculate kinetic energy (KE) is KE = ½mv², where 'm' stands for mass and 'v' for velocity. Since the bat is in motion as he swings it, the bat has kinetic energy.
Potential energy, on the other hand, is the energy stored by an object due to its position in a force field or its configuration. Mechanical energy is a combined total of kinetic and potential energies in a system, while thermal energy refers to the internal energy present in a system due to its temperature. In this context, since the bat is in motion and not in reference to its position or temperature, kinetic energy is the correct answer.