Question

In which one of the following systems is there a DECREASE in Gravitational Potential Energy? Group of answer choices

a.A girl jumps down from a bed.
b.A spring is compressed horizontally
c.A crate rests at the bottom of an inclined plane water is forced upward through s pipe
d.A car ascends a steep hill

Answer 1

a. A girl jumps down from a bed.

Step-by-step explanation:

Gravitational Potential Energy is the energy stored by a body at a certain height above the ground. Unlike kinetic energy, gravitational potential energy is associated with the position of bodies, and not with their movement. In other words, gravitational potential energy is the energy that a body possesses due to the fact of being under the action of gravity and mathematically is given by:

`U_g=m*g*h`

Where:

`m=mass\hspace{3}of\hspace{3}the\hspace{3}body`

`g=Local\hspace{3}gravitational\hspace{3}field`

`h=Height\hspace{3}above\hspace{3}a\hspace{3}reference\hspace{3}level`

So, if the girl is jumping from her bed at a certain height h with respect to the ground, her gravitational potential energy is decreasing more and more, because her height tends towards 0 during her fall.