Question

A ball rolls from point A to point B. The total energy of the ball at point A isn’t the same as the sum of its potential energy and kinetic energy at point B. Which statement best explains this situation?

The rolling ball doesn’t follow the law of conservation of energy.

Some of the ball’s energy is transformed to thermal energy.

The rolling ball loses some of its energy because of gravity.

The ball absorbs some of its own potential energy.

Answer 1

The rolling ball loses some of its energy because of gravity.


There are two forces acting about the ball:

-The force that is pushing her

-The force of gravity that is pulling her down


The force that is pulling her down will make her more slowly and the ball will stay more slowly, for this reason the kinetic energy will be smaller.


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