Question
A car accelerating along a straight, horizontal pathway will be increasing its potential energy. (2 points)
Responses
True
True
False
Responses
True
True
False
Answers
GPT-4o mini
False
In this scenario, a car accelerating along a straight, horizontal pathway is not increasing its potential energy. Potential energy typically pertains to an object's position in a gravitational field (like height above the ground). Since the car is moving horizontally, its potential energy remains constant unless there is a change in height. Instead, the car is increasing its kinetic energy as it accelerates.
In this scenario, a car accelerating along a straight, horizontal pathway is not increasing its potential energy. Potential energy typically pertains to an object's position in a gravitational field (like height above the ground). Since the car is moving horizontally, its potential energy remains constant unless there is a change in height. Instead, the car is increasing its kinetic energy as it accelerates.