Question

How much potential energy do we have when we are standing still on the ground?

Answer 1

When we are standing still on the ground , our body forms a 90° angle with the ground .

If any force acts at right angles to the direction of motion of a body , then the angle between the direction of motion and direction of force is 90° .

Now , cos 90° = 0 , so the component of force , F cos 90° , acting in the direction of displacement becomes zero and hence the work done also becomes zero . Since , work done and energy are equal in all cases ,

Therefore , potential energy = 0

Answer 2

The potential energy at ground is zero.

the reason of this is that :::::::-----------------

Typically, the ground is considered to be a position of zero height. ... Since the gravitational potential energy of an object is directly proportional to its height above thezero position, a doubling of the height willresult in a doubling of the gravitationalpotential energy.