When you're throwing a ball in the air, when does the ball have the most potential energy and kinetic energy?
Most PE: at its peak
Most KE: at the bottom of the fall, when all the stored PE has converted to KE.
When you throw a ball in the air, it undergoes a continuous change in potential energy and kinetic energy as it moves through its trajectory. Let's break it down into different stages to understand when the ball has the most potential energy and kinetic energy.
1. Start of the throw: Initially, when you hold the ball in your hand, it is at rest. At this point, the ball has no kinetic energy but does possess potential energy due to its position above the ground. The potential energy of the ball is at its maximum since the ball is at its highest point above the ground.
2. Ascent: When you release the ball and it starts moving upward, its potential energy decreases gradually, while its kinetic energy begins to increase. The potential energy decreases because the ball is getting closer to the ground, and the kinetic energy increases as its velocity starts to build up. The ball gains kinetic energy and loses potential energy simultaneously until it reaches its peak height.
3. Peak height: At the highest point of its trajectory, the ball momentarily comes to a stop (reaches its maximum height). At this point, the ball has lost all of its initial kinetic energy, and its potential energy is at its maximum since it is as far away from the ground as possible.
4. Descent: After reaching its peak height, the ball starts descending due to the influence of gravity. As it falls, the potential energy decreases gradually once again, while the kinetic energy increases. The potential energy decreases because the ball is moving closer to the ground, and the kinetic energy increases due to the ball's increasing velocity.
5. Reaching the ground: When the ball reaches the ground, its potential energy is minimal as it is positioned at its lowest point above the ground. At the same time, its kinetic energy is at its maximum because it has reached its maximum velocity just before impact.
To summarize, the ball has the most potential energy when initially held above the ground and at its highest point during ascent. The ball has the most kinetic energy at its lowest point just before hitting the ground.