What determines an object's potential energy?
a
weight and position
b
mass and position
c
weight and speed
d
mass and speed
The correct answer is: b) mass and position.
To determine an object's potential energy, you need to consider its weight and position. So, the correct option is (a) weight and position.
Potential energy is the energy that an object possesses based on its position in a force field, typically the gravitational field of the Earth. The higher an object is located above the ground, the more potential energy it has. The potential energy of an object is directly proportional to its weight (mass times the acceleration due to gravity) and its height or position above a reference point (usually the ground).
The formula to calculate the potential energy of an object is:
Potential Energy (PE) = Weight (W) x Height (h)
In this formula, weight is the force due to gravity acting on the object, which can be calculated by multiplying the mass of the object (m) by the acceleration due to gravity (g):
Weight (W) = Mass (m) x Acceleration due to Gravity (g)
So, when determining an object's potential energy, you consider its weight (which depends on its mass) and its position or height above the ground.