Question detail
A 10 kg object is raised to a height of 5 m. Calculate the gravitational potential energy gained by the object.
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
MCQ
Type
practice
Style
Topic
Energy changes in a system, and the ways energy is stored before and after such changes
Question
- A. 500 J
- B. A distractor that confuses Changes in energy with a different Energy idea
- C. A distractor that ignores calculate gravitational potential energy gained
- D. A distractor that uses the wrong unit or relationship for this question
Answer
500 J
Explanation
The correct option is "500 J". 500 J is right because it answers the Changes in energy objective: Calculate gravitational potential energy gained by an object raised above ground level.. The distractors are incorrect because they either use the wrong Physics quantity, confuse an energy store with a transfer, or ignore the wording of this question.
Common mistake
Confusing gravitational field strength with acceleration due to gravity
Students often use g = 9.8 m s⁻² as the gravitational field strength in the formula Ep = m g h, but g is the acceleration due to gravity, not the field strength. They then treat g as a unitless constant and ignore that the field strength can vary with location or be given explicitly in the problem.
Remind students that the gravitational field strength (g) is the force per unit mass and has units of N kg⁻¹ (or m s⁻²). In the formula Ep = m g h, g is the field strength, so it must be supplied or calculated from the local value of g. If the problem states the field strength directly, use that value; if it only gives the acceleration due to gravity, treat it as the field strength for the calculation. Always keep the units consistent: m (kg) × g (N kg⁻¹) × h (m) = J.
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