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Misconception EGM061:

The gravitational potential energy of an object does not depend on the distance the object is above the ground (AAAS Project 2061, n.d.).

Items that test for misconception EGM061 in this project (ASPECt) and key idea ()
Item ID
Number

Item Description

How Often the Misconception was Chosen

Select This Item for My Item Bank

RG084002

A pot that is hanging outside the second floor window has more energy then a pot hanging outside the first floor window because it is higher above the ground.

34%

RG050002

A flower pot on the taller post has more energy than a flower pot on the shorter post because it is higher above the ground.

28%

EG069002

For two boxes that have the same amount of gravitational potential energy, the box that is on the lower shelf weighs more.

28%

RG048002

A weight will have more energy when it is 6 feet above the ground than when it is 3 feet above the ground because the higher an object is the more energy it has.

27%

RG083002

A box on the top shelf has more energy than a box on a lower shelf because the box on the higher shelf is farther from the ground.

23%

EG014003

The gravitational potential energy of an object decreases as it falls.

18%

EG088002

When two children who weigh the same are on a teeter-totter, the child who is up has more gravitational potential energy than the child who is down.

17%

EG017004

For two students of equal height and weight, the student standing on the higher diving board has more gravitational potential energy than the student standing on the lower diving board.

16%

EG087001

A coconut has the most gravitational potential energy before it falls from a tree because a coconut is at the highest point above the ground before it falls.

15%

RG047003

If a weightlifter drops a weight on their toes, it will hurt more if it is dropped from 6 feet than if it is dropped from 3 feet because the higher an object is the more energy it has.

12%

EG067002

The gravitational potential energy of a space shuttle increases as it gets higher in the sky.

12%