Question

What happens to gravitational potential energy as a boulder falls off a cliff?

Answer 1

As the boulder falls off the cliff, the gravitational potential energy that the boulder has is converted into kinetic energy. If you do the calculations, you will see that the kinetic energy the boulder has is equal to the gravitational potential energy it had before it fell off a cliff. 

Answer 2

Answer:

Gravitational potential energy will be transformed into kinetic energy as a boulder falls off a cliff.

Explanation:

Potential energy is an energy that results from the position or configuration of the object. An object may have the ability to perform work as a result of its position in a gravitational field (gravitational potential energy), an electric field (electric potential energy), or a magnetic field (magnetic potential energy).

Then the gravitational potential energy is defined as the energy that a body possesses by the fact of being under the action of gravity.

On the other hand, kinetic energy is the energy associated with movement.  In the international system (SI), the unit of kinetic energy is the jouje (J).

Mechanical energy is the sum between potential and kinetic energy:

ME = Ep + Ek

This value is always constant in conservative systems, that is, where there is an absence of external forces such as friction forces.

Therefore, if the potential energy decreases, the kinetic energy will increase. In the same way if the kinetics decrease, the potential energy will increase.

The latter indicates that gravitational potential energy will be transformed into kinetic energy as a boulder falls off a cliff.