Question

A fruit hanging from the top branch of a tree possesses
A. Gravitational potential energy
B. Elastic potential energy
C. Kinetic energy
D. Sound energy

Answer 1

Hint: To solve such questions we need to have a clear understanding of the different types of energy stored in a body at rest or when it is moving and also clearly identify the physical conditions around it.

Complete answer:
A fruit hanging from the top branch of a tree is obviously at some height above the ground.And we know that the energy related to the position of the body is known as potential energy. So the fruit from the top branch is only hanging, therefore it poses potential energy because of the height it is situated at from the ground level. If the fruits fall down the potential energy of the body will become zero.

Now everything on the earth experiences a gravitational force irrespective of any other kind of energy it possesses. This force is attractive and it is present between any two point or massive masses and also between the masses and the earth. It is what decides how much we weigh.Therefore any object at rest which has the potential to work and is situated in a gravitational field will have gravitational potential energy.And thus the fruit in this case possesses gravitational potential energy.

Hence option A is correct.

Note: The fruit from the top of the branch is in static equilibrium that is at rest at a height above the ground and therefore it only has the potential energy. If the same fruit falls with some velocity, then its potential energy will be converted to kinetic energy. Thus energies are interchangeable.