A student of mass 64.7 kg climbs up the stairs in the Physics Department, with a vertical height change 3.1 metres.
What is the change in gravitational potential energy? Give your answer in Joules, to 2 significant figures.
mgh2 - mgh1 = mg(h2-h1) = mg(3.1) =
64.7*9.8(3.1) = 1966 Joules.
To calculate the change in gravitational potential energy, we can use the formula:
∆PE = m * g * h
where ∆PE is the change in gravitational potential energy, m is the mass of the student, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the vertical height change.
Let's first determine the values we need:
- Mass of the student (m) = 64.7 kg
- Vertical height change (h) = 3.1 m
- Acceleration due to gravity (g) = 9.8 m/s² (approximately)
Now we can substitute these values into the formula to find the change in gravitational potential energy:
∆PE = (64.7 kg) * (9.8 m/s²) * (3.1 m)
Calculating this expression gives us the change in gravitational potential energy:
∆PE ≈ 2008.654 J
Therefore, the change in gravitational potential energy is approximately 2008.654 Joules (J), to 2 significant figures.