At what point in a reservoir do the water contain the most gravitational potential energy
Question
At what point in a reservoir do the water contain the most gravitational potential energy?
Solution
The water in a reservoir contains the most gravitational potential energy at the highest point. This is because gravitational potential energy is directly proportional to the height of an object from the ground. Therefore, the higher the water level, the more gravitational potential energy it has. Here are the steps to understand this:
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Gravitational potential energy is the energy an object possesses because of its position in a gravitational field. The formula for gravitational potential energy is PE = mgh, where m is mass, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is height.
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In the case of a reservoir, the water at the top has the greatest height (h), so according to the formula, it will have the most gravitational potential energy.
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As water descends in the reservoir, its height decreases, which means its gravitational potential energy also decreases.
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Therefore, the water at the highest point in the reservoir has the most gravitational potential energy.
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