A ball is tossed in the air and released. It moves up, reverses direction, falls

Question

A ball is tossed in the air and released. It moves up, reverses direction, falls back down again, and is caught at the same height it was released.

c. What is the mechanical energy of the ball? What can you say about its value at the locations described in your answers to (a) and (b)?

a. Cinsidering the time interval after the ball is released and before it is caught, when does the gravitational potential energy of the ball have its maximum value? Minimum value?

b. When does the kinetic energy of the ball have its maximum value? Minimum value?

Explanation / Answer

A) potential energy is maximum at the maximum height and will be minimum in the hands of the person.

B) kinetic energy is maximum when it is just thrown and is minimum(0) at the highest point when potential energy is maximum.

C) there is no non conservative force is acting in on ball so it will not loose its total mechanical energy and it will remain conserved at every point

So total mechanical energy will be same at every point and is equal to maximum kinetic energy or maximum potential energy according to energy conservation.

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