ASPECt
Energy: Forms, Transformation, Transfer, and Conservation
Item RG042003: The gravitational potential energy of a system of two objects can be increased by pulling them farther apart.
Which of the following statements about the gravitational potential energy of a system of two objects is true?
- The gravitational potential energy of a system of two objects can be increased by pulling them farther apart.
- The gravitational potential energy of a system of two objects can be increased by bringing them closer together.
- The gravitational potential energy of a system of two objects can only be changed if one of the objects in the system is the earth.
- The gravitational potential energy of a system of two objects can only be changed if the mass of the one of the objects changes.
Answer Choice |
Overall |
Grades |
Gender |
Primary Language |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 3008 |
4–5 n = 0 | 6–8 n = 1495 |
9–12 n = 1513 |
Male n = 1390 |
Female n = 1534 |
English n = 2685 |
Other n = 228 |
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| A. | The gravitational potential energy of a system of two objects can be increased by pulling them farther apart. | 22% | N/A | 22% | 23% | 22% | 23% | 22% | 22% |
| B. | The gravitational potential energy of a system of two objects can be increased by bringing them closer together. | 28% | N/A | 29% | 27% | 30% | 26% | 28% | 29% |
| C. | The gravitational potential energy of a system of two objects can only be changed if one of the objects in the system is the earth. | 21% | N/A | 22% | 20% | 20% | 21% | 21% | 20% |
| D. | The gravitational potential energy of a system of two objects can only be changed if the mass of the one of the objects changes. | 29% | N/A | 28% | 30% | 28% | 30% | 29% | 29% |