A 52 kg skier is at the top of a slope, as in the
figure. At the initial point A, the skier is 17.7
m vertically above the final point B.
The acceleration of gravity is 9.81 m/s2 .
Find the difference in gravitational po-
tential energy associated with the skier at the
points A and B if the zero level for gravita-
tional potential energy is at point B.
Answer in units of J.
To find the difference in gravitational potential energy between points A and B, we need to calculate the potential energy at each point separately and then find the difference.
Gravitational potential energy can be calculated using the formula:
Potential energy = mass x gravity x height
Let's start by calculating the potential energy at point A:
Potential energy at A = 52 kg x 9.81 m/s^2 x 17.7 m
Now, let's calculate the potential energy at point B:
Since the zero level for gravitational potential energy is at point B, the potential energy at B would be zero.
Now, let's calculate the difference in gravitational potential energy between points A and B:
Difference in potential energy = Potential energy at A - Potential energy at B
Substituting the values we calculated:
Difference in potential energy = (52 kg x 9.81 m/s^2 x 17.7 m) - 0
Now, we can simply evaluate this expression to find the difference in gravitational potential energy between points A and B:
Difference in potential energy = 8982.3 J
Therefore, the difference in gravitational potential energy associated with the skier at points A and B is 8982.3 J.