Answer:
To calculate the decrease in gravitational potential energy of the 0.500-kg object, we need to know the mass of the object and its height above a reference point. The gravitational potential energy of an object is given by:
gravitational potential energy = mass × gravity × height
where:
mass is measured in kilograms (kg)
gravity is measured in meters per second squared (m/s²)
height is measured in meters (m)
If we assume that all of the gravitational potential energy goes into decreasing the gravitational potential energy, then we can equate the two formulas and solve for the decrease in gravitational potential energy:
decrease in gravitational potential energy = mass × gravity × distance
where:
distance is measured in meters (m)
Substituting the given values, we get:
decrease in gravitational potential energy = 0.500 kg × 9.81 m/s² × 1.00 m = 4.91 J
The rest of the energy might go into other forms such as heat, sound, or deformation of the object or its surroundings.