Question

Describe three situations in which the gravitational potential energy of an object changes.

Answer 1

The gravitational potential energy of an object changes when it is lifted, when it falls, or during pendulum motion. Only vertical motion affects gravitational potential energy, so horizontal movement like sliding does not contribute to GPE change.

Step-by-step explanation:

The gravitational potential energy (GPE) of an object can change in various situations. The GPE is the energy an object has due to its position in a gravitational field, often Earth's. This energy can change when the vertical position of the object is altered.

Three situations where gravitational potential energy changes:

1. Lifting an object: When you lift an object, such as a rock, from the ground, you're doing work against gravity, and the object gains GPE.
2. Falling: If you drop a rock from a certain height, the rock loses GPE which is converted to kinetic energy as it falls, increasing its speed until it impacts the ground.
3. Pendulum motion: In a swinging pendulum, the GPE is highest at the peak of its swing and is converted to kinetic energy as it descends, only to be converted back to GPE as it ascends to the opposite peak.

It's important to note that only vertical displacement affects an object's GPE. Therefore, sliding an object horizontally, like a crate across a floor, does not change its GPE.

Answer 2

-- It increases when the object is lifted higher.

-- It decreases when the object is allowed to go lower.

-- It can either increase or decrease when the object is kept at the
same height but on a different planet, where the acceleration of gravity
is more or less than it is on Earth.