A ball is placed at the edge of a table and then at the center. The table's height remains unchanged. How does the ball's gravitational potential energy compare in both positions?
The potential energy is the same in both positions
Gravitational potential energy of an object is given by the formula PE = mgh, where m is the mass of the object, g is the acceleration due to gravity and h is the vertical height above the chosen reference level.
In this case, the ball is placed on a table whose height does not change, so the vertical height h of the ball above the ground remains exactly the same whether it rests at the edge or at the center of the table.
Since m, g and h are all identical in both positions, the gravitational potential energy stored in the ball is also identical and does not depend on its horizontal location on the tabletop.
Hence, the correct answer is The potential energy is the same in both positions.
Similar Questions
A box is raised to the same height either by lifting it vertically or by pushing it up an ideal inclined plane. Which quantity is the same in both cases?
The work done to increase the kinetic energy of a 4 kg object from 50 J to 98 J is:
What form of energy does a glowing bulb emit?
According to the work-energy theorem, if the net work done on an object is zero, then its kinetic energy ________.
A car with a mass of 1000 kg is moving at a speed of 25 m/s. If the driver applies the brakes and brings the car to a stop, how much kinetic energy is lost during this process?
If a force of 1 N displaces an object by 1 m along the line of force, the work done is:
A trolley is pulled along a straight track by a constant force of 40 N. If the work done on the trolley is 240 J, what distance does the trolley travel?
An athlete of mass 60 kg runs at 5 m/s. What is the kinetic energy gained compared to standing still?
Which of the following physical quantities affect gravitational potential energy?
Which statement about power is correct?
Important Questions from Work Power and Energy
- The work done by a 10 Newton force acting on a body, which results in the displacement of 2 m in the direction of the force, is __________.
- During energy transformation, the total energy of a system:
- An object of mass 1 kg is moving with a velocity 10 m/s. Find the kinetic energy of the object.
- The efficiency of a machine can never be ______.
- In practice, the work output of a machine is ______ the work input due to the effect of friction.
