You and your friend want to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Your friend takes the elevator straight up. You decide to walk up the spiral stairway, taking longer to do so. Compare the gravitational potential energy (U) of you and your friend, after you both reach the top, assuming that you and your friend have equal masses.
a. It is impossible to tell, since the times and distances are unknown.
b. Your U is greater than your friend's U, because you traveled a greater distance in getting to the top.
c. Both of you have the same amount of potential energy.
d. Your friend's U is greater than your U, because she got to the top faster.
