Which of the following statements is true about gravitational potential energy?
Practice Questions
Q1
Which of the following statements is true about gravitational potential energy?
It is always positive.
It can be negative.
It is independent of position.
It is always zero.
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
Which of the following statements is true about gravitational potential energy?
Correct Answer: Gravitational potential energy can be negative depending on the reference point chosen.
Step 1: Understand what gravitational potential energy is. It is the energy an object has due to its position in a gravitational field.
Step 2: Recognize that gravitational potential energy is calculated using the formula: PE = m * g * h, where PE is potential energy, m is mass, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height above a reference point.
Step 3: Identify the reference point. The height (h) is measured from a specific point, which we call the reference point.
Step 4: Realize that if the object is below the reference point, the height (h) will be negative, leading to negative gravitational potential energy.
Step 5: Conclude that gravitational potential energy can indeed be negative if the object is positioned below the chosen reference point.
