Gravitational Potential Energy

Open Ended

"Have you ever thought about how much energy it takes to lift something off the ground? Why does lifting a heavier object feel harder than a lighter one?

Multiple Choice

Sample Problem 1

• 137 J

• 139 J

• 147 J

• 149 J

Multiple Choice

Sample Problem 2

• 20 m

• 23 m

• 21 m

• 18 m

Multiple Choice

Sample Problem 3

• −7.62×10^28 J

• 7.62×10^28 J

• −6.56×10^26 J

• 6.56×10^26 J

Multiple Choice

Sample Problem 4

• −5.8×10^10 J

• 5.8×10^10 J

• −6.8×10^10 J

• 6.8×10^10 J

Multiple Choice

If an object is lifted to a height twice as high as before, how does its gravitational potential energy change?

• It becomes half as much

• It remains the same

• It becomes twice as much

• It becomes four times as much

Multiple Choice

Which of the following factors directly affects the gravitational potential energy of an object?

• The object's shape

• The object's speed

• The object's mass

• The color of the object

Multiple Choice

Gravitational potential energy is always measured relative to:

• The center of the Earth

• A chosen reference point or surface

• The Sun’s gravitational pull

• The speed of the object

Multiple Choice

If an object is lifted to a height twice as high as before, how does its gravitational potential energy change?

• It becomes half as much

• It remains the same

• It becomes twice as much

• It becomes four times as much

Multiple Choice

On the Moon, the gravitational acceleration is about 1/6 of that on Earth. How would the gravitational potential energy of an object on the Moon compare to that on Earth if the object is lifted to the same height?

• The same as on Earth

• About 1/6 as much as on Earth

• About 6 times as much as on Earth

• Zero

Open Ended

If two objects have the same mass but are located at different heights, how does their gravitational potential energy compare? Explain what factors affect the gravitational potential energy.

Fill in the Blank

A heavier object or a higher position means more

Fill in the Blank

is the force that pulls everything toward Earth’s surface