e. What is happening to total energy as the ball is falling? (1 point)
• Total energy is decreasing.
• Total energy is increasing.
•Total energy is staying the same.
• It is impossible to tell.
a. Total energy is decreasing.
The correct answer is: Total energy is staying the same.
To determine what is happening to the total energy as the ball is falling, we need to understand the concept of energy conversion. Total energy is the sum of potential energy (PE) and kinetic energy (KE).
As the ball falls, it loses potential energy because it is moving towards the ground and getting closer to the reference point where potential energy is defined as zero. At the same time, the ball gains kinetic energy because its velocity increases due to the force of gravity acting on it.
Therefore, the ball's potential energy is decreasing, while its kinetic energy is increasing. Since the total energy is the sum of the two, and one is decreasing while the other is increasing, the total energy of the ball is actually staying the same.
So the correct answer is: Total energy is staying the same.