10. Potential energy depends on __ a) height b) mass c) weight d) none of these

The correct answer is a) height.<br /><br />Potential energy is the energy an object possesses due to its position or configuration. In the context of gravitational potential energy, it depends on the height of the object above a reference point, typically the ground. The formula for gravitational potential energy is:<br /><br />\[ PE = mgh \]<br /><br />where:<br />- \( PE \) is the potential energy,<br />- \( m \) is the mass of the object,<br />- \( g \) is the acceleration due to gravity,<br />- \( h \) is the height of the object above the reference point.<br /><br />While mass and weight are related to potential energy, they are not the primary factors that determine it. Weight is actually the force exerted by gravity on an object and is calculated as \( weight = mass \times gravity \). Therefore, the height of the object is the key factor that determines its potential energy.