Gravitational Potential Energy

I have a question that reads as the following:an object is dropped from the top of a high building and falls under the force of gravity alone. Which option gives the graph of the potential energy U of the object as a function of the distance x through which it has fallen?

My first instinct was for it to be a graph curving towards the x axis(like a half a rainbow)

But another one that seems feasible is a graph worth a straight line from the U(x) axis down onto the x axis


Any help please!!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by thermalwarrior

I have a question that reads as the following:an object is dropped from the top of a high building and falls under the force of gravity alone. Which option gives the graph of the potential energy U of the object as a function of the distance x through which it has fallen?

My first instinct was for it to be a graph curving towards the x axis(like a half a rainbow)

But another one that seems feasible is a graph worth a straight line from the U(x) axis down onto the x axis


Any help please!!!

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I have answered this question on PHF here.

-Dan