Question

johanna is studying what happens to the energy as a ball rolls down a ramp. what is one form of energy that she is studying?

○ gravitational potential energy
○ electrical energy
○ chemical energy
○ elastic potential energy

Explanation:

To determine the energy Johanna is studying, we analyze each option:

• Gravitational potential energy: Depends on an object’s height and mass. As a ball rolls down a ramp, its height decreases, so gravitational potential energy (which it had at the top due to height) is converted to other forms (like kinetic energy). This is relevant to the ball - ramp scenario.
• Electrical energy: Involves the flow of electric charge. There’s no electricity involved when a ball rolls down a ramp, so this is irrelevant.
• Chemical energy: Stored in chemical bonds (e.g., in fuels, food). A ball rolling down a ramp doesn’t involve chemical reactions or energy from chemical bonds, so this is not relevant.
• Elastic potential energy: Stored in stretched/compressed elastic objects (like a spring). A ball rolling down a ramp isn’t an elastic - deformation - based process, so this is not relevant.

So the correct option is the one related to the energy associated with the ball’s height, which is gravitational potential energy.

Answer:

A. gravitational potential energy