Question

two bodies a and b of masses 10kg and 20kg respectively are at the same height above the ground which of the two has the lower potential energy and why

step by step correctly answer Brillianist ​

Answer 1

Provided that:

→ There are two bodies a and b

→ Mass of body a = 10 kg

→ Mass of body b = 20 kg

→ Both the bodies are at same height above the ground.

To determine:

→ Which of the two has the lower potential energy and why!?

Knowledge required:

→ An object increases its energy when raised through a height then work done on it is against gravity while it is being raised to a height. This type of energy is known as potential energy.

→ Potential energy = mgh

• Where, m denotes mass, g denotes acceleration due to gravity and h denotes height.

→ PE ∝ m

• Therefore, m ↑ then PE ↑
• m ↓ then PE ↓

→ PE ∝ h

• Therefore, h ↑ then PE ↑
• h ↓ then PE ↓

→ PE ∝ g

• g is same on everything.

Required solution:

→ As we know that more mass, more height cause more potential energy and less mass, less height cause less potential energy.

And here according to the question the both bodies a and b are on same height but they have different mass. Therefore, the body which have low mass have less potential energy.

Therefore, object "a" have lower potential energy as relate to body "b". And the reason is mentioned above. $\:$

Answer 2

→ There are two bodies a and b

→ Mass of body a = 10 kg

→ Mass of body b = 20 kg

→ Both the bodies are at same height above the ground.

To determine:

→ Which of the two has the lower potential energy and why!?

Knowledge required:

→ An object increases its energy when raised through a height then work done on it is against gravity while it is being raised to a height. This type of energy is known as potential energy.

→ Potential energy = mgh

Where, m denotes mass, g denotes acceleration due to gravity and h denotes height.

→ PE ∝ m

Therefore, m ↑ then PE ↑m ↓ then PE ↓

→ PE ∝ h

Therefore, h ↑ then PE ↑h ↓ then PE ↓

→ PE ∝ g

g is same on everything.

Required solution:

→ As we know that more mass, more height cause more potential energy and less mass, less height cause less potential energy.

And here according to the question the both bodies a and b are on same height but they have different mass. Therefore, the body which have low mass have less potential energy.

Therefore, object "a" have lower potential energy as relate to body "b". And the reason is mentioned above. \: