Question

Suppose the total mechanical energy of an object is conserved. If the kinetic energy decreases, what must be true about the gravitational potential energy

Answer 1

The Gravitational Potential Energy must INCREASE.

As the total mechanical energy is conserved:

ME = KE + PE

Thus, if KE decreases, PE must increase for this to hold true because they must ALWAYS sum up to the initial ME value which holds constant.