Imagine that a bowling ball is placed at various locations along a staircase. At which location does the ball possess the GREATEST amount of potential energy?
A)at the top of the stairs
B)at the bottom of the stairs
C)in the middle of the staircase
D)The ball will have the same amount of potential energy no matter where it is placed.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The potential energy of an object depends on its position relative to a reference point. In this case, the reference point could be the bottom of the stairs. As the ball is lifted higher, it gains potential energy due to its increased height above the reference point. Therefore, the ball will possess the greatest amount of potential energy when it is at the top of the stairs, the highest point relative to the reference point.

Imagine That a Bowling Ball Is Placed at Various Locations