Question

Use the picture to answer the question.

An illustration depicts a cyclist riding a bike along a hill. The end on the right where the cyclist moves upward is labeled C, the top of the hill is labeled B, and the end on the left where the cyclist moves downward is labeled A.

As the bicyclist rides from right to left, at which of the three points, if any, is the bicyclist’s potential energy increasing?

(1 point)
Responses

The potential energy is increasing at point C because the bicyclist is increasing in elevation at that point.
The potential energy is increasing at point C because the bicyclist is increasing in elevation at that point.

The potential energy is increasing at point B because the bicyclist is highest there.
The potential energy is increasing at point B because the bicyclist is highest there.

The potential energy is increasing at point A because the bicyclist is moving fastest at that point.
The potential energy is increasing at point A because the bicyclist is moving fastest at that point.

The potential energy is always decreasing because the bicyclist continues to move forward.
The potential energy is always decreasing because the bicyclist continues to move forward.

Answer 1

The potential energy is increasing at point C — there the cyclist is moving upward so his height h (and thus mgh) is increasing. At B the height is maximum (not increasing), and at A he is descending so potential energy is decreasing.