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POTENTIAL ENERGY:
In the game of beer pong energy of the ball trajectory motion across the table and into the cups is easy to account for. Potential energy of the ball can be determined if we know the balls mass ball (2.7 grams), gravity subjected to the ball (9.8 m/s²), and the initial and peak height of the ball which will vary from shot to shot. Knowing these three variables can derive us the potential energy of the ball. For example, if we have a regular ping pong ball with a weight of 2.7grams equivalent to 0.0027 kg and we want to calculate the potential energy of the ball 1 meter above release point, the potential energy equals 0.0265 Joules. 
KINETIC ENERGY:
Kinetic energy can also be calculated if we know the velocity of the ball at our points of interest, and the mass of the ball (2.7grams). For example, if a balls final velocity before entering a cup was 0.687 m/s the kinetic energy of the shot would be 0.000637 Joules.  Putting it all together and remembering the concept of conservation of energy we can calculate all needed information for the balls trajectory including velocity, acceleration, and distance. |