Question

Henry knocked a book off a bookshelf. The book fell to the ground. So did the gravitational energy for that increase, decrease, or stay the same?​

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

As the book fell to the ground, its potential energy decreased, and its kinetic energy increased. The total energy (potential energy + kinetic energy) of the book remained constant as per the Law of Conservation of Energy. Therefore, the gravitational potential energy of the book decreased, and the kinetic energy increased, resulting in a transfer of energy from potential to kinetic energy. Therefore, the gravitational energy decreased.