Using a ramp of length 2m, you apply a 150N force to move a 20kg object a vertical distance of 1m. How much work does gravity do on the object?
-m g h = -20 * 9.81 * 1 Joules
answer is negative because motion is opposite to force.
196
To calculate the work done by gravity on the object, we need to determine the vertical distance it moves.
First, let's find the height the object is lifted. We know that the object moves a vertical distance of 1m, so the height is 1m.
Next, we need to calculate the gravitational force acting on the object. The weight of an object is given by the formula:
Weight = mass × acceleration due to gravity
The acceleration due to gravity on Earth is approximately 9.8 m/s^2. We can multiply the mass of the object (20kg) by the acceleration due to gravity to find the weight:
Weight = 20kg × 9.8 m/s^2 = 196N
Now, we can calculate the work done by gravity using the formula:
Work = force × distance × cos(theta)
In this case, the force is the weight (196N), the distance is the vertical distance traveled (1m), and theta is the angle between the force and the displacement. Since the gravitational force acts vertically downward and the displacement is also vertical, the angle theta is 0 degrees (or cos(0°) = 1):
Work = 196N × 1m × cos(0°) = 196N × 1m × 1 = 196J
Therefore, gravity does 196 Joules of work on the object.