Does Potential Energy of a falling object from the top of a building A) increase B) decrease or C) remain constant WITH RELATION TO TIME. (Sorry to ask such a simplistic question; perhaps I'm over thinking ?) thanks in advance! :)

Question

theeric · Answer

|dw:1375051680238:dw|The potential energy is the energy that can be gained from one point to a second point. Your second point is the ground.

When the object falls, it gets closer to the ground. When it is closer to the ground, it has less energy to gain in the remaining part of the fall.

Another way to look at it is, $PE=m\ g\ h$ where $m$ is mass, $g$ is acceleration due to gravity, and $h$ is the height of the object. Hint: the $h$ is decreasing, so what is the $PE$ doing?

anonymous · Answer

Well I know that the mass does not change, nor does g (9.8 m/s^2), so I'm guessing PE would also decrease??

anonymous · Answer

Am I right? And THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!!!

theeric · Answer

You are right, and you're welcome!

theeric · Answer

And you were smart to make sure $m$ and $g$ were constants.

anonymous · Answer

YAAAAAAYY!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN! :) and thank you for your words of confidence :)

theeric · Answer

You're welcome! :)