How many joules of potential energy does a 1.5 kg book gain when it is elevated 4.2 m?

1.5 * 9.8 * 4.2

62

To calculate the potential energy gained by an object, you can use the formula:

Potential Energy = mass × gravity × height

where:
- mass is the object's mass in kilograms (1.5 kg in this case)
- gravity is the acceleration due to gravity, which is approximately 9.8 m/s² on Earth
- height is the elevation of the object in meters (4.2 m in this case)

Plugging in the values, we get:

Potential Energy = 1.5 kg × 9.8 m/s² × 4.2 m

Now, let's calculate the result step by step:

1.5 kg × 9.8 m/s² = 14.7 kg·m²/s²

14.7 kg·m²/s² × 4.2 m = 61.74 kg·m²/s²

Therefore, the book gains 61.74 joules of potential energy when elevated 4.2 m.