Question

If I were to take a ball to the moon, where gravity is 1/6th that on the Earth, what will happen to its GPE if I hold it at the same height both places?

A. 6 times as much
B. Not enough info
C. 1/6th as much
D. Disappear

Answer 1

C. 1/6th as much

Step-by-step explanation:

• The gravitational potential energy (GPE) of an object depends on its mass, the acceleration due to gravity, and its height above a reference point. Since the gravity on the moon is 1/6th that on Earth, the acceleration due to gravity on the moon is 1/6th that on Earth. Therefore, if you hold the ball at the same height on the moon as on Earth, its GPE will be 1/6th as much as it was on Earth. So the answer is C.