read the text about a person in motion. a skydiver jumped out of a plane. after thirty seconds, she opened…

read the text about a person in motion. a skydiver jumped out of a plane. after thirty seconds, she opened up her parachute and drifted toward the flat ground. complete the statement. assume that the skydivers mass did not change. the gravitational potential energy stored between the skydiver and earth ____ as she drifted toward the flat ground. increased decreased stayed the same

read the text about a person in motion. a skydiver jumped out of a plane. after thirty seconds, she opened up her parachute and drifted toward the flat ground. complete the statement. assume that the skydivers mass did not change. the gravitational potential energy stored between the skydiver and earth ____ as she drifted toward the flat ground. increased decreased stayed the same

Answer

Explanation:

Step1: Recall gravitational - potential - energy formula

The gravitational potential energy formula is $U = mgh$, where $m$ is mass, $g$ is the acceleration due to gravity, and $h$ is the height above the ground.

Step2: Analyze the change in height

As the skydiver drifts towards the flat ground, the height $h$ decreases. The mass $m$ and the acceleration due to gravity $g$ are constant. Since $U = mgh$ and $m$ and $g$ are constant while $h$ decreases, the gravitational potential energy $U$ decreases.

Answer:

decreased