Question

An object that is 0.5 m above the ground has the same

amount of potential energy as a spring that is stretched
0.5 m. Each distance is then doubled.
How will the potential energies of the object and the
spring compare after the distances are doubled?
O The gravitational potential energy of the object will
be two times greater than the elastic potential energy
of the spring.
The elastic potential energy of the spring will be four
times greater than the gravitational potential energy
of the object.
O The elastic potential energy of the spring will be two
times greater than the gravitational potential energy
of the object.
The potential energies will remain equal to one
another.

Answer 1

After doubling the distances, the object's potential energy will be four times greater than the spring's elastic potential energy.

Step-by-step explanation:

After the distances are doubled, the potential energy of the object will be four times greater than the elastic potential energy of the spring. The potential energy of an object due to gravity is given by the equation PE = mgh, where m is the mass of the object, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height. Doubling the height will result in a quadrupling of the potential energy. On the other hand, the potential energy of a spring is given by the equation PE = (1/2)kx^2, where k is the spring constant and x is the displacement. Doubling the displacement will result in a doubling of the potential energy.

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