A 1 kg object is raised 2 m. What is its gravitational potential energy (g ≈ 9.8 m/s^2)?

A 1 kg object is raised 2 m. What is its gravitational potential energy (g ≈ 9.8 m/s^2)?

• A. Approximately 19.6 J
• B. Approximately 9.8 J
• C. Approximately 39.2 J
• D. Approximately 1.96 J

Answer: (A)

Gravitational potential energy is given by m g h, combining mass, gravitational acceleration, and height. For a 1 kg mass raised 2 m in Earth's gravity, the energy is 1 × 9.8 × 2 ≈ 19.6 joules. This matches the value requested. The other numbers would come from different heights: 9.8 J would mean height 1 m, 39.2 J would mean height 4 m, and 1.96 J would mean height 0.2 m.

Gravitational potential energy is given by m g h, combining mass, gravitational acceleration, and height. For a 1 kg mass raised 2 m in Earth's gravity, the energy is 1 × 9.8 × 2 ≈ 19.6 joules. This matches the value requested. The other numbers would come from different heights: 9.8 J would mean height 1 m, 39.2 J would mean height 4 m, and 1.96 J would mean height 0.2 m.