Final answer:
To maximize potential energy on a shelf, place books in decreasing order of mass from the top. Work done on a book depends on its mass and the shelf height (B).
Step-by-step explanation:
To arrange books on a shelf for the greatest overall potential energy, place the books in order of decreasing mass to least mass from the top of the shelf. The correct answer is B) Decreasing. Potential energy is determined by the equation PE = mgh, where m is mass, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height above the reference point. By placing heavier books higher up, you increase the product of m and h, thus increasing the potential energy.
When you lift a book onto a shelf, the work you do on the book depends on the height of the shelf and the mass of the book. Work is calculated as the force applied (in this case, the weight of the book) times the distance over which the force is applied (the height of the shelf), w = mgΔh. The path taken or time taken does not affect the work done against gravity. Therefore, only the height of the shelf and the mass of the book are relevant for calculating work in this context.