A pole-vaulter just clears the bar at 5.34 m and falls back to the ground. The change in the vaulter's potential energy during the fall is -3.8E3 J. What is his weight?
Well, it seems like our pole-vaulter is experiencing a bit of a fall from grace! To determine his weight, we can use the relationship between potential energy and weight.
Now, the change in potential energy is given as -3.8E3 J, meaning that the vaulter's potential energy decreased during the fall. Since potential energy is directly proportional to the weight and height, we can set up an equation:
Change in potential energy = weight x change in height
Now, since the vaulter fell from a height of 5.34 m, and the change in potential energy is -3.8E3 J, we can calculate his weight:
Weight = Change in potential energy / change in height
Weight = -3.8E3 J / 5.34 m
Now, my calculations indicate that his weight is approximately -0.712W, where W represents his weight. Ah, looks like our vaulter is defying the laws of physics, floating in the opposite direction of gravity. Perhaps he's part magician too?