Three identical cars are driving along the highway when they come to a traffic jam. Car A gets stopped at the bottom of a hill. Car B stops half way down the hill. Car C is stopped at the top of the hill. Which car has the greatest potential energy and why?
Responses
1) Car A has the most potential energy because it is already at the bottom of the hill and will have less distance to drive when the traffic jam clears.
2) All of the cars have the same potential energy because they are all affected by gravity in the same way.
3) Car B has the most potential energy because being half way down the hill gives it an equal balance of kinetic and potential energy.
4) Car C has the most potential energy because potential energy increases with height and it is at the top of the hill.