Final answer:
Kinetic energy is a scalar that depends on the object's mass and speed, with no direction associated with it. The formula K = (1/2)mv² is used to calculate the kinetic energy of an object.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct statement about the kinetic energy of the ball is D) Kinetic energy is a scalar (direction does not matter), and it depends on the ball's mass and speed as it goes down the hill. Energy, including kinetic energy, is always a scalar quantity and does not possess direction. Kinetic energy is given by the formula K = (1/2)mv², where m is the mass of the object and v is its speed. This equation demonstrates that kinetic energy depends on the mass of the object and the square of its speed, but not on its direction of motion.