Gravitational Potential Energy of 75-kg Pilot at 1.2 km Height

[pinkyjoshi65]

A 75-kg pilot jumps from a damaged plane at a height of 1.2 km. At the instant he leaves the plane, what is his gravitational potential energy compared to the plane?

So i know how to do the problem, but I am cofused because of the words "compared to the plane". Does that mean that the h is 0?

 

[mgb_phys]

It could be -it's not a well worded question.

 

[ogb p]

No, the height (h) is still 1.2 km for both the pilot and the plane. When calculating gravitational potential energy, the height is measured from a reference point, which in this case is the ground. The gravitational potential energy of the pilot at 1.2 km height would be greater than the gravitational potential energy of the plane at the same height, since the pilot has a greater mass. However, the difference in potential energy between the two would be negligible compared to the potential energy at such a high height.