Question

Consider the following diagram when answering thequestions on the next page.

a. Compare balls A and B in terms of potential energy in both the initial and final setups.

b. Ball A has stopped moving in the final setup, but energy must beconserved. What happened to the potential energy of ball A?

Short answer

a.

In the initial, ball A has higher potential energy.

In the final, ball B is having higher potential energy.

b.

After the motion of A, its kinetic energy increases, and the P.E decreases.

Step-by-step solution

The About potential energy in both initial and final steps:

The energy possessed by a body by virtue of its position relative to others is known as potential energy.

In the initial,ball A is in a higher position than ball B. Therefore, A has higher potential energy.

In the final,ball B becomes at a higher position than A, thereforeB is having higher potential energy compared to A.

 STEP 2: The Potential energy of A.

After the motionof A, its kinetic energy increases,and the collision with B results in a decrease in the energy. The decreased energy is transferred to B.

Now, B is having higher potential energy,the P.E of A decreases and the energy is conserved.