What happens to the potential energy of an object when it is dropped from a height?

When an object is dropped from a height, its potential energy decreases as it falls. This decrease in potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, resulting in an increase in the object's speed as it descends. The potential energy, which is related to the object's height above the ground, is highest at the starting point and diminishes to zero when the object reaches the ground. The transformation of potential energy to kinetic energy illustrates the principle of conservation of energy, which states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted from one form to another. Thus, as the object falls, its potential energy is transformed into kinetic energy, ultimately leading to greater motion at lower heights.