A skateboarder is shown below.
At which point is the skateboarder's potential energy the greatest?
A.
W
B.
X
C.
Y
D.
Z
B. X
To determine at which point the skateboarder's potential energy is the greatest, we need to understand the concept of potential energy and how it relates to the position of an object.
Potential energy is the energy possessed by an object due to its position or condition. It depends on both the object's mass and its height above a reference point. The formula for potential energy is:
Potential Energy (PE) = Mass (m) × Gravitational Acceleration (g) × Height (h)
In this case, the skateboarder's potential energy will depend on their height above the reference point. Looking at the options provided (A, B, C, and D), we need to identify the point that is highest.
By observing the diagram, we can see that point Y is the highest point reached by the skateboarder. Therefore, the correct answer is C. At point Y, the skateboarder's potential energy is the greatest.
To determine at which point the skateboarder's potential energy is the greatest, we need to consider the height of the points on the skateboarder's path.
Potential energy is directly related to an object's height above the ground. The higher the object is, the greater its potential energy.
Looking at the given diagram, the skateboarder is at the highest point at point X. Therefore, the answer is B. X.