A golf ball is struck by a golf club and falls on a green eight feet above the tee.The potential energy of the Earth-ball system is greatest:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The potential energy of the Earth-ball system is greatest when the ball is at its highest point in its flight because potential energy is directly related to height (PE = mgh, where m is mass, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is height). At the highest point, the ball has the greatest height above the reference point, which in this case could be the tee or any other defined level, thus maximizing its potential energy.

A Golf Ball Is Struck by a Golf Club and Falls