Question

Potential energy of a body depends on its:
A. motion
B. colour
C. mass
D. none of these

Answer 1

Hint:The energy of a body can be described according to the motion of a body or the position of the body. The potential energy is usually described in bodies, in electric charge or when the stress is generated inside.

Complete answer:
The potential energy can be determined by analyzing the initial and final position of the body and the force that brings the body into its final position. The forces are conservative in the case of potential energy. The factor that depends on the potential energy is only the position and not the trajectory of the body.

And the work is determined by using the potential of the body. The work did not depend on the path the body moved from initial to the final position.The equation for the potential energy can be expressed as,
\[U = mgh\]
Where, $m$ is the mass of the body, $g$ is the acceleration due to gravity and $h$ is the height of the body.

So, from the above equation we can deduce that potential energy depends on the mass of the substance. Also, it is clear from the equation that the potential energy is proportional to the varying height. This equation can be used for the gravitational potential energy where gravity of the earth influences. The potential energy of a body is the energy by virtue of its position.

Hence, the correct option is C.

Note:The potential energy is denoted by U, V, or PE. The SI unit of the potential energy is Joule which is symbolized by an English letter ‘J’. Example: Water at the top of the waterfall stores energy (which is the potential energy) and that energy helps rotate the turbine and convert its kinetic energy into electricity.