Question

read the text about an object in motion. sue was about to play the first hole on a mini golf course. she placed her golf ball on the mat in front of her and aimed carefully with her golf club. then, sue gently tapped the ball straight toward the hole. the ball rolled slowly along the flat mat before falling to the bottom of the hole. when was the least gravitational potential energy stored between the golf ball and earth? assume that the golf balls mass did not change. when the ball was farthest from the hole when the ball was rolling slowly on the mat when the ball was at the bottom of the hole

Explanation:

Step1: Recall gravitational - potential - energy formula

The gravitational potential energy formula is $U = mgh$, where $m$ is mass, $g$ is the acceleration due to gravity, and $h$ is the height above the reference level.

Step2: Analyze height in different situations

When the ball is farthest from the hole and rolling on the mat, it is at a higher height compared to when it is at the bottom of the hole. At the bottom of the hole, the height $h$ relative to the lowest - point is minimum. Since $m$ and $g$ are constant (mass doesn't change and $g$ is a constant near the Earth's surface), when $h$ is minimum, the gravitational potential energy $U$ is minimum.

Answer:

when the ball was at the bottom of the hole