You and your friend,who has the same mass 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 the system you-Earth and your friend-Earth,after you both reach the top.
A)It is impossible to tell, since the times you both took are unknown.
B)It is impossible to tell, since the distances you both traveled are unknown.
C)The friend-Earth system's gravitational potential energy is greater than the you-Earth system's gravitational potential energy, because he got to the top faster.
D)Both systems have the same amount of gravitational potential energy at the top.
E)The you-Earth system's gravitational potential energy is greater than the friend-Earth system, because you traveled a greater distance in getting to the top.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The gravitational potential energy of an object depends only on its height and mass, and is independent of the time taken to get there. Both you and your friend are at the same height at the top of the Eiffel Tower and have the same mass, so both systems have the same amount of gravitational potential energy at the top. The method of getting there (taking the elevator or walking up the stairway) does not affect the gravitational potential energy.

You and Your Friend,who Has the Same Mass as You,want