Which energy form increases with height above the ground for a given mass and gravity?

• A. Kinetic energy
• B. Mechanical energy
• C. Chemical potential energy
• D. Gravitational potential energy

Answer: (D)

Gravitational potential energy is the energy stored because of an object's height in a gravitational field. For a given mass and constant gravity, this energy is m g h, where h is how high the object is above the reference point. Since m and g are fixed, gravitational potential energy increases directly as height increases.

Kinetic energy depends on speed, not height, so raising the mass without changing its motion doesn’t increase KE. Chemical potential energy relates to the arrangement of atoms and bonds, not position in a gravitational field. Mechanical energy is the total energy (sum of kinetic and potential); it isn’t a single form that must rise with height, even though the gravitational potential part does.