Question

As an object falls freely near the earths surface , the loss in gravitational potential energy of the object is equal to its what

Answer 1

Increase in kinetic energy as well as energy loss to the surroundings in the form of heat ( negligible)

Answer 2

Therefore the loss (transfer) of this potential energy is equal to the increase in kinetic energy

Step-by-step explanation:

First remember that energy is not destroyed, it only transpires

There are different types of energy, an example of different types of energy is the heat energy (the one that is transferred from an object that is hotter to another, or also by friction), the gravitational potential energy (increases when the height of an object increases with respect to the zero point) another example would be the kinetic energy (increases with increasing the speed of an object)

When object "loses" energy is really transforming into another type of energy

While an object falls and loses its potential energy (it loses height) it increases its speed (it falls faster and faster), as its speed increases the kinetic energy increases

Therefore the loss (transfer) of this potential energy is equal to the increase in kinetic energy