Question

why the potential energy of a body kept on the surface of the Earth is zero?​

Answer 1

Answer:

In this case we generally choose the zero of gravitational potential energy at infinity, since the gravitational force approaches zero at infinity. This is a logical way to define the zero since the potential energy with respect to a point at infinity tells us the energy with which an object is bound to the earth.

Answer 2

Answer:

The potential energy of a body kept on the surface of the earth is zero because the distance between the object and the earth is zero.

Explanation:

Potential energy is calculated by multiplying the mass of the object with the acceleration due to gravity along with the distance between the earth and the object.

i.e Potential energy= mass×acceleration due to gravity×height.

when the object is kept on the surface of the earth then the distance between the object and the surface of earth is zero. so potential energy is zero.

Hope this helps....