Question

If an astronaut holds a 5-kg ball 2 meters (m) above the ground on the Moon, does it have the same potential energy it did when the astronaut held that ball 2 m above the ground on Earth? Explain your reasoning

Answer 1

The potential energy of the object is not the same on earth and moon because of varying acceleration due to gravity.

The given parameters;

• mass of the object, m = 5 kg
• height, h = 2 m
• acceleration due to gravity on earth, g = 9.8 m/s²
• acceleration due to gravity on moon, g = 1.6  m/s²

The potential energy of the object on earth is calculated as follows;

P.E = mgh

P.E = 5 x 9.8 x 2

P.E = 98 J

The potential energy of the object on moon is calculated as follows;

P.E = 5 x 1.6 x 2

P.E = 16 J

Thus, we can conclude that the potential energy of the object is not the same on earth and moon because of varying acceleration due to gravity.

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