Question

As a ball is released from 10ft above the ground, it falls freely (without friction)

toward the ground, at what point does the ball have the maximum gravitational
potential energy?
Can't be determined
At the top, at the release point.
Half
way
down the ground
At the floor

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

The formula to find Potential Energy is PE = mgh, where m is the mass of the object, g is gravity, and h is the height from which the object can potentially fall. Because this is linear, then PE will increase as either the mass or the height increase (gravity is constant at 9.8 m/s/s). If the mass of the ball being dropped doesn't change, then the only thing that determines this ball's max PE is the height from which it is dropped; max PE ALWAYS occurs at the highest point from which an object can potentially fall. So your answer is "At the top".