what is the gravitational potential of a 2kg book that is on a shelf 2 meters off the ground?
To calculate the gravitational potential energy of an object, you need to use the formula:
Gravitational Potential Energy (GPE) = mass (m) x gravitational acceleration (g) x height (h)
The mass of the book is given as 2 kg, and the height of the shelf is 2 meters. The gravitational acceleration can be approximated as 9.8 m/s² on Earth.
Plugging these values into the formula will give us the answer:
GPE = 2 kg x 9.8 m/s² x 2 m = 39.2 joules
Therefore, the gravitational potential energy of the 2 kg book on a shelf 2 meters off the ground is 39.2 joules.