Which object has a greater amount of potential energy if the two balls are dropped from the same height: a ping pong ball that with a mass of 0.010 kg, or a basketball with a mass of 1.5 kg.
a
basketball ball
b
ping pong ball
The basketball has a greater amount of potential energy because it has a higher mass. Potential energy is related to the mass and height of an object, so even if both balls are dropped from the same height, the basketball will have more potential energy due to its higher mass.
The object with a greater amount of potential energy is the basketball ball. Potential energy is directly proportional to the mass of an object. Since the basketball has a much larger mass (1.5 kg) compared to the ping pong ball (0.010 kg), it will have a greater potential energy when dropped from the same height.
To determine which object has a greater amount of potential energy, we need to consider the formula for potential energy, which is given by the equation: potential energy = mass * height * gravity.
In this scenario, we know the height is the same for both balls because they are dropped from the same height. Let's assume the height is "h."
The mass of the ping pong ball is given as 0.010 kg, and the mass of the basketball is given as 1.5 kg.
The acceleration due to gravity, denoted as "g," is approximately 9.8 m/s^2.
Now, we can calculate the potential energy for each ball:
For the ping pong ball:
Potential energy = mass * height * gravity
Potential energy = 0.010 kg * h * 9.8 m/s^2
Potential energy = 0.098 h joules
For the basketball:
Potential energy = mass * height * gravity
Potential energy = 1.5 kg * h * 9.8 m/s^2
Potential energy = 14.7 h joules
Comparing the potential energies, we can see that the potential energy of the basketball is greater than that of the ping pong ball. Therefore, the basketball has a greater amount of potential energy when both balls are dropped from the same height.