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Which has the most gravitational potential energy- a 10 kg ball that is 2 meters high or a 10 kg ball that is 4 meters high?

User Jpiccolo
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1 Answer

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22 votes

Answer:

The 10 kg ball that is 4 meters high is greater than a 10 kg ball that is 2 meters high

Step-by-step explanation:

From the question,

Gravitational Potential Energy of the first ball

P.E1 = mgh.................... Equation 1

Where P.E1 = Gravitational Potential Energy of the first ball, m = mass of the first ball, h = height of the first ball, g = acceleration due to gravity.

Given: m = 10 kg, h = 2 m

Constant: g = 9.8 m/s²

Substitute these values into equation 1

P.E1 = 10×2×9.8

P.E1 = 196 J.

Similarly,

Gravitational potential energy of the second ball is

P.E2 = m'gh'................... Equation 2

Where P.E2 = Gravitational potential Energy of the second ball, m' = mass of the second ball, h' = height of the second ball.

Given; m' = 10 kg, h' = 4 m

Substitute these values into equation 2

P.E2 = 10×4×9.8

P.E2 = 392 J

From the above calculation,

P.E2 is greater than P.E1.

Hence, the 10 kg ball that is 4 meters high is greater than a 10 kg ball that is 2 meters high

User Mortymacs
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