According to some nineteenth-century geo- logical theories (now largely discredited), the
Earth has been shrinking as it gradually cools.
If so, how would g have changed over geo-
logical time?
A.) It would increase; g is inversely proportional to the square of the radius of the earth
B.) It would decrease; the Earths radius is decreasing
C.) It would not change; the mass of the earth remained the same

false

explanation:

answer: the potential energy decreases from 379 j to 243 j

explanation:

for the law of conservation of energy, the total energy in a system must be conserved. the total energy of the system is given by the sum of kinetic (k) and potential (u) energy:

e = k + u

the total energy is e=675 j, and this does not change.

initially, the kinetic energy is k=296 j, so the potential energy is

at the end, the kinetic energy is k=432 j, so the potential energy is

so, we see that the potential energy has decreased from 379 j to 243 j.