Which object stores gravitational potential energy?

Which object stores gravitational potential energy?

• A. A moving car
• B. A ball held at a height above the ground
• C. A battery
• D. A flowing river

Answer: (B)

Gravitational potential energy is energy stored because of an object's height in a gravitational field. For a ball held at height above the ground, it has mass m and height h, so its potential energy is U = m g h. This energy sits there until you release the ball, at which point it can become kinetic energy as it falls. The moving car mainly has energy of motion (kinetic energy), not energy stored by height. A battery stores chemical energy, not gravitational potential energy. A flowing river involves moving water with kinetic energy, and while water at height can have potential energy, the situation described is a moving object, so the ball at height clearly stores gravitational potential energy.

Gravitational potential energy is energy stored because of an object's height in a gravitational field. For a ball held at height above the ground, it has mass m and height h, so its potential energy is U = m g h. This energy sits there until you release the ball, at which point it can become kinetic energy as it falls. The moving car mainly has energy of motion (kinetic energy), not energy stored by height. A battery stores chemical energy, not gravitational potential energy. A flowing river involves moving water with kinetic energy, and while water at height can have potential energy, the situation described is a moving object, so the ball at height clearly stores gravitational potential energy.