Try it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
A flowerpot sits on a balcony above the ground. A table in the garden below is high. Taking :
Gravitational potential energy near the Earth is , with measured from any level we choose; only changes in matter. A spring stores . The force is .
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Plan. Measure from each level in turn.
Step 1. (a) .
Step 2. (b) : .
Step 3. (c) The drop is on either choice: .
Answer: (a) . (b) . (c) , either way.
Check. The two values in (a) and (b) differ by , the table's height.
Watch out. The value of depends on where you put zero; differences of do not. Only differences matter in physics.
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