Question

A box with a mass of 25 kg and a box with a mass of 10 kg are lifted and set on the same shelf. Which of the following describes their energy?

a) Both boxes have the same potential energy.
b) The 25 kg box has more potential energy than the 10 kg box.
c) The 10 kg box has more potential energy than the 25 kg box.
d) Neither box has potential energy.

Answer 1

The 25 kg box has more potential energy than the 10 kg box.

Step-by-step explanation:

The potential energy of an object depends on its mass and height above the ground. The formula to calculate potential energy is PE = mgh, where m is the mass of the object, g is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s^2), and h is the height above the ground. In this case, the 25 kg box has more potential energy than the 10 kg box because it has a greater mass.