Answer:
part(a): The potential energy is .
part(b): The potential energy is .
part(c): The potential energy is .
Explanation:
Given:
The mass of the ball, .
The distance from the ceiling to the center of the ball,
The height of the room, .
The potential energy of any particle of mass situated at a height from ground is given by
where is the acceleration due to gravity.
(a) The distance of the ball relative to ceiling is . Thus, the potential energy will be
(b) The distance of the ball from the ground is
Thus, the potential energy will be
(c) The distance of the ball relative to a point at the same elevation as the ball is .
Thus, the potential energy will be