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Free Potential Energy MCQs with Answers

52 Potential Energy MCQs from Physics, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.

Potential energy is energy stored because of position or configuration, including gravitational potential energy near Earth's surface and elastic energy in a stretched or compressed spring. Questions use changes in potential energy and conservation of mechanical energy, while distinguishing a chosen reference level from an absolute zero of energy.

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52 questions · page 2 of 3

21. If a body a mass of 2 kg is raised vertically through 2m, then the work done will be _________________?

  • A. 38.2 J
  • B. 392.1 J
  • C. 39.2 J
  • D. 3.92 J

Explanation: The work done in raising the body equals its gain in gravitational potential energy: W = mgh = 2 kg x 9.8 m s-2 x 2 m = 39.2 J.

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Correct answer: 39.2 J

22. A man of weight 500 newtons walks up to the top of a building of height of 20 m above the street level. The increase in the potential energy of man is

  • A. 5/9.8J
  • B. 500 x 20J
  • C. 500/9.8 J
  • D. 500/20/9.8J

Explanation: The explanation of this question is: Increase in potential energy P.E. = Final P.E. - Initial P.E.

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Correct answer: 500 x 20J

23. The sum of Kinetic Energy and Potential Energy is always constant provided:

  • A. There is some force of friction involved during the motion of the body
  • B. There is no force of friction involved during the motion of the body
  • C. There is greater force of friction involved during the motion of the body
  • D. Both; there is some force of friction involved during the motion of the body & no force of friction involved during the motion of the body
  • E. None of the above

Explanation: The principle of conservation of mechanical energy states that the total mechanical energy in a system remains constant when only…

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Correct answer: There is no force of friction involved during the motion of the body

24. Escape velocity on the surface of the earth is 11.2 kms-1. If the mass of the earth increases to twice its value and the radius of the earth become half the escape velocity is:

  • A. 5.6 kms-1
  • B. 11.2 kms-1
  • C. 22.4 kms-1
  • D. 33.6 kms-1

Explanation: escape velocity = √ (2GM / r)where: G= gravitation constantM = mass of the earthr = radius of earth2 and G are constant in this equation…

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Correct answer: 22.4 kms-1

25. One end of an unstretched vertical spring is attached to the ceiling and an object attached to the other end is slowly lowered to its equilibrium position. If S is the gain in spring energy & G is the loss in gravitational potential energy in the process, then:

  • A. S = G
  • B. S = 2G
  • C. G = 2S
  • D. None of these

Explanation: At equilibrium position x = mg / kUspring = (1/2) k x² = (1/2) k (mg / k) x = mgx / 2 = (1/2) (loss in G.P.E.) ⇒ G = 2S

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Correct answer: G = 2S

26. You accidentally bump into a bookcase. It tilts briefly but then returns to upright, and you breath a sigh of relief. When you first bumped the bookcase, its center of gravity moved:

  • A. Upward and its gravitational potential energy increased.
  • B. Downward and its gravitational potential energy decreased.
  • C. Downward and its gravitational potential energy increased.
  • D. Upward and its gravitational potential energy decreased.
  • E. None of the above.

Explanation: The correct answer is that the center of gravity moved upward and its gravitational potential energy increased.

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Correct answer: Upward and its gravitational potential energy increased.

27. As we move up a body, above the surface of Earth, the change in potential energy will always be:

  • A. Negative
  • B. Zero
  • C. Positive
  • D. Infinity

Explanation: Option C is correct.The change in potential energy is positive when we move a body upward above the surface of the Earth.

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Correct answer: Positive

28. A man carries a 1 kg suitcase horizontally across the corridor and then goes up the stairs of total height of 10 m. The work done by the man due to force of gravity is:

  • A. 0 J
  • B. 196 J
  • C. 4.9 J
  • D. 98 J

Explanation: W horizontal = mgh cos 90 = 0W vertical = mgh = (1)(9.8)(10) = 98 JW total = W horizontal + W vertical= 0 + 98 = 98J

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Correct answer: 98 J

29. Absolute gravitational P.E. of an object at infinite height w.r.t Earth is taken as:

  • A. Negative
  • B. Positive
  • C. Zero
  • D. All of these

Explanation: Option C is correct.Yes, the absolute gravitational potential energy of an object at infinite height with respect to Earth is taken as…

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Correct answer: Zero

30. A 2m tall man standing at the top of 30m tall tower raises a 1 kg mass 0.5 m above his head. The P.E of the raise mass will be (taking head as reference point): (g = 10m/s2)

  • A. 5 J
  • B. 320 J
  • C. 25 J
  • D. All of these

Explanation: Option A is correct.Given that:Height of the man: 2 mHeight of the tower: 30 mMass of the object: 1 kgDistance raised: 0.5 mAcceleration…

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Correct answer: 5 J

31. When arrow is released from its bow, its energy is transformed from:

  • A. Heat energy to K.E
  • B. Chemical energy to elastic P.E
  • C. Elastic P.E to K.E
  • D. K.E to elastic P.E

Explanation: When an arrow is thrown from its bow, the elastic P.E. of the bow is transferred to arrow as its K.E.

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Correct answer: Elastic P.E to K.E

32. A field is said to be conservative if:

  • A. Work done inside that field is independent of the path followed
  • B. Work done in closed path inside that field is zero
  • C. Both A and B
  • D. Work done is always negative

Explanation: i. The field in which work done on a body does not depend on the path followed by the body is called conservative field.ii.

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Correct answer: Both A and B

33. A body is falling from a height h. After it has fallen a height h/2 , it will possess:

  • A. Only potential energy
  • B. Only kinetic energy
  • C. Half potential and half kinetic energy
  • D. More kinetic and less potential energy

Explanation: P.E = mghP.E = mgh/2 [h' = h/2]P.E' = P.E/2So at h/2. body has half P.E and half K.E.

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Correct answer: Half potential and half kinetic energy

34. The work done by the gravitational force on a body in displacing it from a given position nearthe surface of Earth to infinity is calledI. elastic potential energy.II. potential energy of the body.III. absolute potential energy of the body.

  • A. I only
  • B. III only
  • C. II and III
  • D. I and II

Explanation: The work done by the gravitational force to move a body from the surface of Earth to infinity is termed the 'absolute potential energy' of…

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Correct answer: III only

35. A body is moved from position X to Y along four different paths as shown in the given figure. The work done in moving the object in the gravitational field will

  • A. Vary at different paths.
  • B. Be greater for the longer path.
  • C. Be same and equal to its kinetic energy.
  • D. Be same and equal to its potential energy.

Explanation: The correct answer is that the work done in moving the object in a gravitational field is the same regardless of the path taken, as long…

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Correct answer: Be same and equal to its potential energy.

36. A packet of mass (m) is unloaded from a truck by using inclined plane from a height (h) asshown in the given figure.

  • A. A: The packet moves without any external force.
  • B. B: The packet accelerates due to gravitational force.
  • C. C: The packet remains stationary unless pushed.
  • D. D: The gravitational component along the plane causes the packet to slide down.

Explanation: The correct answer is Option D: The gravitational component along the plane causes the packet to slide down.

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Correct answer: D: The gravitational component along the plane causes the packet to slide down.

37. Consider an object is placed on a frictionless inclined plane at a height of 5m, if it is released, what will be its velocity at the bottom of the inclined plane?

  • A. Insufficient information
  • B. 10 m/s
  • C. 100 m/s
  • D. 20 m/s

Explanation: We shall need to assume that friction and air resistance are to be ignored.

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Correct answer: 10 m/s

38. When a spring is stretched by 10cm, the potential energy is stored is E. When the spring is stretched by 10cm more, the potential energy stored in the spring becomes

  • A. 2E
  • B. 4E
  • C. 6E
  • D. 10E

Explanation: E = ½ kx2 E= ½ k(0.1)2 For second situation, E'= ½ kx'2 E'= ½ k(0.2)2 Comparing E and E', we get E'= 4E

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Correct answer: 4E

39. The amount of work done in moving a body at certain point in a gravitational field to a position of zero potential such that the body Is never accelerated is called

  • A. Kinetic energy
  • B. Potential energy
  • C. Gravitational potential energy
  • D. Absolute potential energy

Explanation: The work done in moving a body from a certain point in a gravitational field to a position of zero potential without acceleration is…

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Correct answer: Gravitational potential energy

40. The object has 1 J of P.E. What is the work done in terms of height?

  • A. 1 J
  • B. 10 J
  • C. 0 J
  • D. 0.1 J

Explanation: The work done in terms of height to give an object 1 Joule (J) of potential energy is 1 J. So, the correct answer is: 1 J

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Correct answer: 1 J
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