A bucket is at rest at the bottom of a well. A cable is attached to the bucket and the force of tension is used to lift the bucket up out of the well. What type of energy is changing as the bucket is being lifted?
the gravitational potential energy is increasing
As the bucket is being lifted, the type of energy that is changing is gravitational potential energy.
Gravitational potential energy is the energy possessed by an object due to its position relative to the Earth. It is defined as the amount of work done in lifting the object from a reference level, usually the ground, to its current position. The formula for gravitational potential energy is given by:
PE = mgh
Where:
PE = Gravitational potential energy
m = Mass of the object
g = Acceleration due to gravity
h = Height or distance above the reference level
In this scenario, as the bucket is being lifted, it is moving upwards against the force of gravity. This requires work to be done, and thus the bucket's gravitational potential energy is increasing. The tension in the cable provides the force necessary to lift the bucket, converting the force applied into gravitational potential energy.
So, the type of energy that is changing as the bucket is being lifted is gravitational potential energy.