Exam-style question
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What does a gravitational potential graph indicate about the energy changes of an object in a gravitational field?.
- A.The object gains kinetic energy as it moves to a higher potential.
- B.The object loses gravitational potential energy as it moves to a lower potential.
- C.The object's mass affects the shape of the graph.
- D.The gravitational potential is constant regardless of position.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- The object loses gravitational potential energy as it moves to a lower potential.
Explanation
Why this works
The evidence shows that as an object moves down a gravitational potential graph, the height decreases, indicating a loss of gravitational potential energy. This implies that energy is converted to kinetic energy or other forms as the object descends.
Therefore, the conclusion is that the graph illustrates the relationship between height and energy in a gravitational field.
Common mistake
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