Complete the statement. Assume that Mitch's mass did not change.
The gravitational potential energy stored between Mitch and Earth () as he rode the escalator.

 - increased
 - decreased
 - stayed the same
Think about how the distance between Mitch and the center of Earth changed.
The second floor is higher than the first floor. As he rode the escalator toward the second floor, the distance between Mitch and the center of Earth increased. So, the gravitational potential energy stored between Mitch and Earth increased as he rode the escalator.