Given the equation PE = mgh, when calculating potential energy, which of the following statements is NOT true for calculating potential energy?
a
Mass does not matter
b
Potential energy is measured in Newtons (N)
c
Height does not matter
d
All of the above are true statements when calculating PE
b) Potential energy is not measured in Newtons (N), but rather in joules (J).
Energy in is force times distance moved in direction of force (work done ).
If you lift an object of mass m kilograms in a gravitational field of g meters/second^2 your force up is F= m g Newtons. If the vertical distance you push it up is h meters then
the energy you put in is m g Newtons * h meters
= m g h Joules
where a Joule is defined as a Newton meter.
That m g h Joules is now available to you as potential energy to do work or speed up on the way down.