Final answer:
Gravitational potential energy (GPE) is energy due to an object's position above the Earth's surface, calculated using the formula GPE = mgh. The GPE of Jaime's bird feeder is a result of the Earth's gravitational pull, not kinetic energy, speed, mass, or elasticity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The gravitational potential energy (GPE) of an object is the energy due to its position in the Earth-object system and can be calculated with the formula GPE = mgh, where m is mass, g is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s2 on the surface of Earth), and h is the height above a reference point. In Jaime's case, the bird feeder has a gravitational potential energy which is a result of the gravitational pull of Earth and not its kinetic energy, speed and mass, or elasticity. Given that the bird feeder weighs 20 N and is on a 2-m pole, and assuming Earth's gravity as 9.8 m/s2, the GPE of the bird feeder can be calculated using the formula, leading to a value of 40 J (since for Earth's surface g could be simplified as 10 m/s2 for easy calculation).