Final answer:
The gravitational potential energy of the ball just before the netball player shoots it is 10.78 joules, calculated using the formula GPE = mgh with a ball mass of 0.5 kg and height of 2.2 m above the ground.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question concerns the gravitational potential energy of a netball when a player is about to shoot it into the goal net. To find the gravitational potential energy (GPE), the formula GPE = mgh is used, where m is the mass of the ball, g is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s2 on Earth), and h is the height of the ball above the reference point, in this case, the ground.
Given that the netball player is 1.7 m tall and the ball is held 0.5 m above her head, the total height h of the ball is 2.2 m (1.7 m + 0.5 m). With a ball mass m of 0.5 kg, the gravitational potential energy just before the shot is GPE = 0.5 kg * 9.8 m/s2 * 2.2 m = 10.78 J (joules).