Kinetic and potential energy?

Question

1. What forms of potential energy would be found in an apple on the branch of a tree?

2. Describe a stone falling off a tabletop in terms of both kinetic energy and potential energy

THANKS A BUNCH IF U HELP! ♥ ♥ ♥

Answer 1

1. I am not certain on this one but I would believe that there is no potential energy, excluding nuclear potential energy which I am unsure about too.  The reason for no potential energy would be because the apple is attached to the tree.  Thus, it cannot fall.  If an object does not have the capacity to move, there is no potential energy.

2. At t=0, when the stone is on the table top and is just about to fall, potential energy is highest while kinetic energy is 0 (not moving).  As it falls down, potential energy turns into kinetic energy.  Therefore, potential energy is decreased while kinetic energy increases.  This process continues until the stone hits the floor.  At this instant, the stone has maximum kinetic energy and no potential energy.

Answer 2

1. gravitational potential energy

2. potential energy because if its height, kinetic energy as it rolls to the tip of the table top...not sure i rotational kinetic energy comes into play...

that's my unresearched take on it

Answer 3

Potential energy is due to the force exerted by gravity and is related to the height of an object from the ground.  The higher the apple is in the tree the more potential energy it has.

As an object falls from a table potential energy is turned in kinetic energy as the object accelerates.  Kinetic energy is the energy due to the speed of an object.

Looking at it mathematically Force (energy) = mass X acceleration.  The potential energy is a function of mass and the kinetic energy is a function of speed.