Question

How can you increase the gravitational potential energy of an object?

Answer 1

Hint : Gravitational potential energy is the energy stored in an object as the result of its vertical position or height. The energy is stored as the result of the gravitational attraction of the Earth for the object. In other words, we can define gravitational energy as the work done against gravity. For example, if we lift a dumbbell from the ground to some height, then the work done to lift the dumbbell is stored as gravitational energy.

Complete Step by step explanation:
Step 1: The gravitational potential energy of the massive ball of a demolition machine is dependent on two variables - the mass of the ball and the height to which it is raised. There is a direct relation between gravitational potential energy and the mass of an object. More massive objects have greater gravitational potential energy. There is also a direct relation between gravitational potential energy and the height of an object. The higher that an object is elevated, the greater the gravitational potential energy.
Step 2: let us understand the entire thing with the help of the formula of the gravitational potential energy. The formula of the gravitational potential energy is given by $P{E_g} = mgh$ , where $m$ is the mass of the object, $g$ is the acceleration due to gravity, and $h$ is the height to which the object is raised. It is clear from the formula that for a particular object its mass $m$ and acceleration due to gravity $g$ is constant. Now we can say that the gravitational potential energy of the object depends on the height to which it is raised. In other words, the gravitational potential energy is directly proportional to the height of an object from the ground. Therefore to increase the gravitational potential energy of an object, the object should be raised higher. The higher the object, the more gravitational potential energy. The gravitational potential energy also depends on the mass if it varies. If we keep the height constant, then the energy depends on the mass of the object. Heavier the object more the gravitational potential energy.

Note: There are other potential energies also, different from the gravitational potential energy. For example, potential energy stores in the stretched or compressed spring, a stretched bow, etc. the potential energy and the kinetic energy can be converted to each other. Moreover, for a ball thrown vertically upward the sum of the potential energy and the kinetic energy is always constant.