Question

17) Name two ways you could decrease the potential energy of a bucket full of water sitting on a bench.

Answer 1

1.By decreasing it's contents- this decreases the weight of the bucket thus decreasing the potential energy of the bucket.

2.By decreasing the height of the bench we have decreased the amount of potential energy stored in the bucket

Answer 2

Answer: Two ways you could decrease the potential energy of a bucket full of water sitting on a bench are: -

(i) Lift it in such a way that you decrease its height as compared to the bench.

(ii) Put it on a stool whose height is lower than the bench.

Step-by-step explanation:

The potential energy of an object has the following formula

Potential energy = mgh

where m = mass of the object

g = acceleration due to gravity

h = height of the object

This means that the potential energy of an object depends upon its mass, acceleration due to gravity, and height.

In the given situation we have a bucket full of water. If the mass and acceleration due to gravity are not changed, the only way the potential energy can be decreased is by reducing the height of the bucket full of water.

This can be done by: -

(i) Lifting the bucket full of water in such a way that you

decrease its height as compared to the bench.

(ii) Put the bucket full of water on a stool whose height is

lower than the bench.