Final answer:
The ball has the most gravitational potential energy at its highest point. A 10 kg bowling ball at a height of 5 m has a gravitational potential energy of 500 joules using a gravity value of 10 m/s². This energy is converted into kinetic energy as the ball falls.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ball has the most gravitational potential energy at the highest point in its trajectory or path. According to the principles of physics, potential energy is highest when an object is furthest from the point where it would have zero potential energy—in this case, the ground. The formula for calculating gravitational potential energy is PE = mgh, where 'm' is the mass of the object, 'g' is the acceleration due to gravity, and 'h' is the height of the object above the ground.
Example Calculation
Consider a 10 kg bowling ball raised to a height of 5 meters. Using the acceleration due to gravity as approximately 10 m/s², the gravitational potential energy is PE = 10 kg × 10 m/s² × 5 m = 500 joules. Just before the bowling ball hits the ground, all this potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, which affects the speed at which the ball reaches the ground.