Question

4) An object is released from rest a height h above the ground. A second object with four times the mass of the first is releasedfrom the same height. The potential energy of the second object compared to the first isSelect one:O A. twice as muchO B. one-fourth as much.O C. four times as much.O D. one-half as much.O E. eight times as much.

Answer 1

Given that mass of second object is four times the mass of first object.

Also, both the objects are released from the same height, h.

We have to find the potential energy of second object compared to the first

The potential energy formula is given by,

`P\mathrm{}E\text{. = mass}* height* g`

Here, g is acceleration due to gravity.

Let the mass of first object be m, then mass of second object will be 4m

Potential energy of first object will be

`P\mathrm{}E._1\text{ = mgh}`

Potential energy of second object will be

`\begin{gathered} P\mathrm{}E._2=4mgh \\ =4P\mathrm{}E._1 \end{gathered}`

Hence the potential energy of second object is four times that of first object.