You throw a softball (of mass 300 g) straight up into the air. It reaches a maximum altitude of 17.9 m and then returns to you.
What is the gravitational potential energy of the softball at its highest position? Assume the ball departed from and returned to ground level.
PE = mgh
Convert to kg
To calculate the gravitational potential energy of the softball at its highest position, we need to use the formula:
Gravitational potential energy = mass * gravity * height
Given:
Mass (m) = 300 g = 0.3 kg
Height (h) = 17.9 m (maximum altitude)
Acceleration due to gravity (g) = 9.8 m/s²
Substituting the values into the formula:
Gravitational potential energy = 0.3 kg * 9.8 m/s² * 17.9 m
Now let's calculate it step by step:
Step 1: Multiply mass by gravity:
0.3 kg * 9.8 m/s² = 2.94 N
Step 2: Multiply the result by the height:
2.94 N * 17.9 m = 52.626 J
Therefore, the gravitational potential energy of the softball at its highest position is 52.626 Joules.