Wendy 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, Wendy 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 ball's 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 wher

The least gravitational potential energy between the golf ball and Earth was when the ball was at the bottom of the hole. At that point, the ball is at its lowest height compared to its position above the ground, hence the gravitational potential energy is minimized since gravitational potential energy depends on height. Interestingly, gravitational potential energy is all about position. The higher you are, the more potential energy you have due to gravity pulling you down. So, when the ball is at the bottom of the hole, it loses all that potential energy that was stored when it was up higher on the mat! In the world of mini golf, it's not just about getting the ball in the hole; it’s also about strategy. Players often consider the angle and force of their shots to use the least energy possible while navigating obstacles. Understanding how potential energy plays into the game can help a player aim better and plan more effectively for the following holes, turning the game into a fun science experiment!