A bowling ball rolls down a frictionless ramp resulting in a decrease in its potential energy. Which of the following statements is correct?
Well, aren't bowling balls just the "strike" of potential energy? When it rolls down a frictionless ramp, it's basically saying "I'm falling for you, gravity!" So, the correct statement would be: "The bowling ball's potential energy decreases as it rolls down the ramp, just like my enthusiasm for folding laundry."
The correct statement is that the potential energy of the bowling ball is being converted into kinetic energy as it rolls down the frictionless ramp.
To determine which of the following statements is correct, we first need to understand the concept of potential energy and how it relates to the situation described.
Potential energy is the energy that an object possesses due to its position or state. In the case of the bowling ball rolling down a frictionless ramp, the potential energy of the ball is being converted into another form of energy as it moves downhill.
Statement A: The decrease in potential energy is due to an increase in kinetic energy.
Statement B: The decrease in potential energy is due to an increase in thermal energy.
Statement C: The decrease in potential energy is due to an increase in gravitational potential energy.
Statement D: The decrease in potential energy is due to an increase in electric potential energy.
To determine the correct statement, we can rule out options that do not align with the given situation.
Option B can be eliminated because thermal energy is typically associated with heat, which doesn't seem relevant to this scenario. Option D can also be eliminated as electric potential energy doesn't seem to be relevant for a bowling ball rolling down a ramp.
Now, let's focus on options A and C.
In this case, as the bowling ball rolls down the frictionless ramp, its potential energy decreases. This is because the ball is moving from a higher position to a lower one. As the ball descends, its gravitational potential energy decreases because it is getting closer to the ground. This loss in potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, which is the energy of motion.
Therefore, the correct statement is C: The decrease in potential energy is due to an increase in gravitational potential energy.