Rita throws a ball straight up into the air and catches it at the same position from which she threw it. the ball has 18 j of mechanical energy when it leaves her hand. if no energy is lost due to friction, which statements about the energy of the ball are true? check all that apply. the potential energy at the top of the ball’s motion is 18 j. the kinetic energy is less when the ball is thrown than when it is caught. the kinetic energy increases as the potential energy decreases. the kinetic energy decreases as the potential energy increases. the total mechanical energy of the ball stays constant. the mechanical energy decreases as the ball moves up and increases as the ball comes down.