Final answer:
The assertion that a dad's gravitational potential energy increases as he climbs to the second floor is true because GPE is a function of an object's height above the ground, its mass, and the acceleration due to gravity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that an 82.4 kg dad's gravitational potential energy (GPE) increases as he climbs to the second floor of his house is true. Gravitational potential energy is energy an object possesses due to its position in a gravitational field. The GPE is directly proportional to the height (h), the mass (m) of the object, and the acceleration due to gravity (g). The formula to calculate the change in gravitational potential energy is ΔPEg = mgh, where Δ denotes a change, m is mass, g is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.81 m/s²), and h is the change in height. As the dad climbs higher, his height increases relative to the ground, thus his GPE increases.