Question

Gravitational potential energy of an object depends on its ______ and ______

• A. mass of the object
• B. its height from the surface of earth and acceleration due to gravity

Answer 1

Explanation:

1. Gravitational potential energy is the energy an object possesses because of its position in a gravitational field.
2. Hence, it is affected by the force of gravity and thus, also depends on acceleration due to gravity.
3. $$\begin{gathered} \mathrm{Mathematically} \\ \mathrm{u}=\mathrm{mgh}\mathrm{where}\mathrm{u}\mathrm{is}\mathrm{gravitational}\mathrm{potential}\mathrm{energy},\mathrm{m}\mathrm{is}\mathrm{mass} \\ \mathrm{g}\mathrm{is}\mathrm{gravitational}\mathrm{acceleration},\mathrm{h}\mathrm{is}\mathrm{height}\mathrm{from}\mathrm{surface} \end{gathered}$$

Thus, Gravitational potential energy of an object depends on its mass of the object and its height from the surface of earth and acceleration due to gravity.