Read the text about an object in motion. In a public pool, Hector held an inflatable ball above his head and then pushed the ball down into the water. Hector could feel the ball pushing up against his hands while he held it steady underwater. After a few seconds, he let the ball go. The ball rose to the surface of the water and floated in the pool. When was the least gravitational potential energy stored between the ball and Earth? Assume that the ball's mass did not change. when the ball was above Hector's head when the ball was pushing against Hector's hands underwater when the ball was floating on the surface of the pool

When the ball was underwater, it had the least gravitational potential energy stored between itself and the Earth. This is because gravitational potential energy is highest when an object is at its highest position above the ground. Since the ball was submerged, only a limited amount of potential energy was present compared to when it was above Hector's head or floating on the surface. Furthermore, this scenario highlights the principles of buoyancy and density. While underwater, the downward force of gravity acting on the ball is countered by the upward force of the water (buoyancy). As a result, the interaction of these forces determines the ball's behavior in water, showcasing some exciting physics that's at play with everyday objects!