How does mass affect the gravitational potential energy of an objec
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Mass directly influences the gravitational potential energy (GPE) of an object. Gravitational potential energy is the energy an object possesses due to its position in a gravitational field, typically Earth’s gravitational field. The formula for GPE is:GPE=mgh\text{GPE} = mghGPE=mgh
Where:
- mmm is the mass of the object,
- ggg is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s29.8 \, \text{m/s}^29.8m/s2 on Earth),
- hhh is the height of the object above a reference point (usually the ground).
From this equation, it is clear that the gravitational potential energy is directly proportional to the mass of the object. This means that as the mass increases, the gravitational potential energy also increases, provided the height (hhh) and gravitational field strength (ggg) remain constant.
For example, if you have two objects at the same height, the one with the larger mass will have more gravitational potential energy. This is because a heavier object has more stored energy due to its increased mass. Conversely, a smaller object with less mass will have a lower gravitational potential energy, even if both are at the same height.
Additionally, the height of an object plays a role in GPE. The higher an object is positioned above the ground, the greater its GPE, regardless of its mass. However, the mass will always have a more significant effect on GPE when comparing objects at the same height.
In conclusion, mass increases the gravitational potential energy of an object because the energy is proportional to the mass. The larger the mass, the greater the potential energy stored due to gravity, assuming height remains constant.
