Which of the following correctly describes gravitational potential energy?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
Which of the following correctly describes gravitational potential energy?
It is a scalar quantity.
It is a vector quantity.
It can be negative.
Both A and C.
Gravitational potential energy is a scalar quantity and can be negative when the object is within the gravitational field of another mass.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: Which of the following correctly describes gravitational potential energy?
Solution: Gravitational potential energy is a scalar quantity and can be negative when the object is within the gravitational field of another mass.
Steps: 4
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 a scalar quantity, meaning it has magnitude but no direction.
Step 3: Learn that gravitational potential energy can be calculated using the formula: PE = mgh, where 'm' is mass, 'g' is the acceleration due to gravity, and 'h' is the height above a reference point.
Step 4: Note that gravitational potential energy can be negative. This happens when the object is below the reference point in the gravitational field of another mass.
