Final answer:
Objects have maximum gravitational potential energy at their highest point (top) and minimum at their lowest point (bottom) due to height differences, which is answer choice a).
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to this question is a) Maximum at the top, minimum at the bottom. Gravitational potential energy (PE) is dependent on the height of an object from the ground, as represented by the equation PE = mgh, where m is mass, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height above ground. Objects at higher elevations have more potential energy because they have more distance to fall. As an object falls, its potential energy decreases while its kinetic energy increases due to acceleration from gravity. This conservation of energy ensures that as the potential energy decreases to a minimum at the bottom, kinetic energy reaches its maximum.
An example to illustrate this is a roller coaster. At the peak of the track, the roller coaster car has maximum potential energy because it is at its highest point. As the coaster descends, the gravitational potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, which is why the fastest speeds are at the lowest points during the ride. The potential energy is at a minimum at the bottom where the height is the lowest.