Gravitational potential energy?

[Plasm47]

Explain how a skier can have more than one value for gravitational potential energy at anyone time?

My attempt at an answer.

Consider the position of the skier is relative to the bottom of the hill. Therefore the skier has gravitational potential energy as he/she descends down the hill. At any moment where the skier is airborne (i.e ascending off a jump) he/she now has gravitational potential energy from being above ground.

will not be surprised if this is incorrect.

 

[Andrew Mason]

Explain how a skier can have more than one value for gravitational potential energy at anyone time?

What determines gravitational potential energy? Think of gravitational potential energy of the skier as a potential energy difference between two positions: its present position and some other position.

AM

 

[Plasm47]

What determines gravitational potential energy? Think of gravitational potential energy of the skier as a potential energy difference between two positions: its present position and some other position.

AM

wouldn't my two first sentences be an example of that? so that would make one value. i guess my last sentence is just an extension to the first value.

 

[Andrew Mason]

wouldn't my two first sentences be an example of that? so that would make one value. i guess my last sentence is just an extension to the first value.

Your answer is not incorrect but needs a bit more explanation. That would be an example of having two gravitational potential energies at one particular time (ie. when he/she is airborne). What would those energies be? How would the skier have two potential energies at ANY given time (ie. even when he/she is not airborne) as the question asks?

AM

 

[asteriatic]

Your explanation is correct. Gravitational potential energy is the energy an object possesses due to its position in a gravitational field. In the case of a skier, as they descend down a hill, they have gravitational potential energy due to their position above the ground. However, when they reach a point where they are airborne, their position changes and they now have gravitational potential energy due to their height above the ground.

This is because as the skier gains height, they are moving further away from the center of the Earth and therefore experiencing a stronger gravitational pull. This results in an increase in their potential energy. Once the skier lands back on the ground, their position changes again and their potential energy decreases.

So, at any given time, a skier can have multiple values of gravitational potential energy depending on their position relative to the ground. This concept can also be applied to other objects, such as a rollercoaster or a bungee jumper, where their potential energy changes as they move up and down in a gravitational field.