Question

During a race, you are accelerating on a leveled track and acquire a velocity three times your initial velocity. What is the change in your potential energy?

• A. It does not change.
• B. It becomes $\text{1.5 times}$ that of your initial potential energy.
• C. It becomes $\text{3 times}$ that of your initial potential energy.
• D. It becomes $\text{9 times}$ that of your initial potential energy.

Answer 1

The correct option is A

It does not change.

When we are running on a leveled track, the distance between the ground and the centre of mass of the body remains constant.

Potential energy is mathematically represented by the formula,
$P.E.=m\times g\times h,$
where $m$ is the mass, $g$ is the acceleration due to gravity and $h$ is the height to which the object is raised.

In the current situation, $h$ is constant as we are running on a leveled track. We know that here $m$ and $g$ are constants, therefore, there is no change in the potential energy.