What type of energy does a ball have when it falls off a table?

• A. Chemical
• B. Kinetic
• C. Mechanical
• D. Potential

Answer: (B)

When something is in motion, the energy you’re describing is kinetic energy—the energy of motion. As the ball falls, gravity pulls it downward and it speeds up, so its kinetic energy increases while it may still have some gravitational potential energy due to its height. The key idea is that the falling ball is characterized by motion, which is why kinetic energy is the best description.

Chemical energy isn’t involved here because there’s no chemical reaction powering the fall. Mechanical energy isn’t a single type of energy but the total of kinetic plus potential, which isn’t what we’re labeling in this moment. Potential energy is present because of height, but the energy you identify during the act of falling is kinetic energy.