Final answer:
Increasing the mass of an object increases its potential and kinetic energy. Potential energy is heightened when an object is raised, while kinetic energy increases with the object's mass and velocity during motion.
Step-by-step explanation:
Increasing the mass of an object will increase the amount of potential and kinetic energy the object has. When an object—for example, a rock—is lifted off the ground, work is done on the object, which increases its potential energy (PE). If the rock is dropped, its kinetic energy increases due to the force of gravity acting on it as it falls. This concept is fundamental in physics, specifically in mechanics, where the relationship between mass, potential energy, and kinetic energy is analyzed.
It’s important to note, however, that potential energy is also dependent on an object's position relative to a reference point, typically the Earth's surface for gravitational potential energy. Therefore, simply increasing an object’s mass while it remains stationary at the same height will not increase its potential energy. Instead, it’s the raising of the object to a higher elevation that increases its PE. Similarly, increasing the mass of an object moving with a certain speed will increase its kinetic energy (KE), as KE is proportional to both the mass of the object and the square of its velocity.