Calculate the potential energy of a 40 gram sparrow resting on a branch 30 feet above the ground.
(Hint: 1 foot = 0.305 m)
To calculate the potential energy of an object, we will use the formula:
Potential Energy = mass x gravitational acceleration x height
First, let's convert the mass of the sparrow from grams to kilograms. Since 1 kilogram = 1000 grams, the mass of the sparrow is 40 grams / 1000 = 0.04 kg.
Next, we need to convert the height from feet to meters. We use the conversion factor: 1 foot = 0.305 meters. So, the height of the branch is 30 feet x 0.305 meters/foot = 9.15 meters.
Finally, we need to know the value of gravitational acceleration, which is approximately 9.8 m/s².
Using the formula, we can calculate the potential energy:
Potential Energy = 0.04 kg x 9.8 m/s² x 9.15 meters
Here's how you can calculate it step by step:
1. Multiply the mass (0.04 kg) by the gravitational acceleration (9.8 m/s²): 0.04 kg x 9.8 m/s² = 0.392 N (Newton).
2. Multiply the result by the height (9.15 meters): 0.392 N x 9.15 meters = 3.582 N·m.
Therefore, the potential energy of the 40 gram sparrow resting on a branch 30 feet above the ground is approximately 3.582 N·m.