Do the body have potential energy.

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SUMMARY

A body at rest on the Earth's surface possesses potential energy that is relative to a chosen reference point. There is no absolute potential energy; it is always measured from a zero-point. For example, an object with mass m has potential energy of 10mg when measured from the bottom of a 10-meter deep hole. The potential energy can be expressed as mgx for positions below the object or -mgx for positions above, assuming g remains constant over small distances.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of gravitational potential energy concepts
  • Familiarity with mass and gravitational acceleration (g)
  • Basic knowledge of reference points in physics
  • Ability to perform calculations involving mass and height
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the concept of gravitational potential energy in classical mechanics
  • Learn about the significance of reference points in energy calculations
  • Explore the effects of varying gravitational fields on potential energy
  • Study the relationship between potential energy and kinetic energy in motion
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Students of physics, educators teaching mechanics, and anyone interested in understanding energy concepts in gravitational fields.

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suppose a body is at rest say on Earth surface, does it posses potential energy?
 
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There is no such thing as "absolute" potential energy. Potential energy is always "relative" to some zero-point. Any mass has potential energy 0 relative to its own position. But being "on the surface of the earth" could mean at the top of a mountain! An object, of mass m, on the surface of the earth, will have potential energy 10mg relative to the bottom of a hole 10 meters deep. It will, in general, have potential energy mgx relative to a position x below it or -mgx relative to a position x above it- as long as x is small enough that we can treat g as a constant.
 

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