What is the relationship between mass, gravity, and height in the context of potential energy?

Study for the ABSA 4th Class Power Engineer Test. Explore questions with hints and explanations. Get ready to ace the exam!

The relationship between mass, gravity, and height in the context of potential energy is described by the formula PE = mgh. In this formula, "PE" represents the potential energy, "m" stands for mass of the object, "g" denotes the acceleration due to gravity, and "h" is the height above a reference point.

Potential energy is the energy possessed by an object due to its position in a gravitational field. The higher an object is placed, the more potential energy it has because it has the potential to fall under the influence of gravity. This formula illustrates that potential energy increases proportionally with an increase in either mass or height. For example, if you double the mass of an object while keeping its height constant, the potential energy will also double. Similarly, if you increase the height while keeping the mass constant, the potential energy increases in direct proportion to the height.

The other options do not correctly represent the relationship between mass, gravity, and height with respect to potential energy. For instance, the option representing potential energy with velocity (PE = mv^2) relates to kinetic energy rather than potential energy. The formula using force and height (PE = Fh) might imply a similar relationship, but it is not specific

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