Question

The potential energy is least when you are ___.

• A. sitting on a chair
• B. sitting on the ground
• C. sleeping on the ground
• D. standing on the ground

Answer 1

The correct option is C

sleeping on the ground

The potential energy of an object is the energy possessed by the object by virtue of its position.
Potential energy, PE = mgh,
where m is the mass of the object, g is the acceleration due to gravity and h is the height to which the object is raised.
Now, in the case of a human body, the height of the body from the ground is measured from the centre of mass of the body. So the potential energy will be least in case of a person who is sleeping because in that situation height of the centre of mass of the body will be minimum from the ground.