Question

An object is dropped from a height h when is its potential energy maximum?

Answer 1

Potential energy:

1. The energy possessed by an object by virtue of its position, shape, or size is called potential energy.
2. It is basically of two types,
   1. Gravitational potential energy,
   2. Spring potential energy

Gravitational potential energy:

1. The gravitational potential energy of an object is the work done in raising the object from the ground to a point above the ground against gravity.
2. The gravitational potential energy of an object of mass $m$ placed at height $h$is given by

$U=mgh$

3. So, on increasing height from the ground the potential energy increases, and on decreasing the height the potential energy decreases.

Final answer: Hence, the potential energy is maximum at the point from where that object is dropped.