You and your friend, who weighs the same as you, want to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Your friend takes the elevator straight up. You decide to walk up the spiral stairway, taking longer to do
So) Compare the gravitational potential energy of you and your friend, after you both reach the
Top)
A) Your friend's gravitational potential energy is greater than yours, because he got to the top faster.
B) It is impossible to tell, since the times you both took are unknown.
C) It is impossible to tell, since the distances you both traveled are unknown.
D) Your gravitational potential energy is greater than that of your friend, because you traveled a greater distance in getting to the top.
E) Both of you have the same amount of gravitational potential energy at the top.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Gravitational potential energy at a certain height is determined by the mass of the object and its height above the ground, not by the path taken or the time it took to get there. Since both you and your friend weigh the same and reach the same height, your gravitational potential energies are the same.

You and Your Friend, Who Weighs the Same as You