What determines an object's potential energy?
a
weight and speed
b
mass and speed
c
weight and position
d
mass and position
c
The correct answer is c) weight and position. An object's potential energy is determined by its position relative to a reference point and its weight or mass. The higher an object is positioned against a reference point, the greater its potential energy. Additionally, the weight of the object also affects its potential energy because weight is a measure of the force of gravity acting on the object.
The correct answer is option c: weight and position. The potential energy of an object is determined by its weight, representing the force of gravity acting on the object, and its position relative to a reference point. This potential energy is stored energy that an object possesses due to its position within a gravitational field.
To understand how weight and position determine an object's potential energy, we can consider the formula for gravitational potential energy:
Potential Energy = weight × height
Weight refers to the force of gravity acting on the object, while height represents the distance or vertical position of the object above a reference point. The greater the weight of an object and the higher its position, the more potential energy it possesses.
Therefore, weight and position are the factors that determine an object's potential energy, option c is the correct choice.