Question

A ball tied at the end of a string and swinging back and forth, at what point in the swing would the ball have the highest potential energy?

• A. At the bottom of the swing
• B. Mid way between the bottom and the top of the swing
• C. At the top of the swing
• D. just past the bottom of the swing on the way up
• E. Just past the top of the swing on the way back down

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

At the top of the swing

The gravitational potential energy of the ball at any point on the path is given by $mgh$, where $h$ is the height of ball above the ground.

Thus more the height of the ball, more the gravitational potential energy.

Thus the ball has the highest potential energy at the top of the swing.