What is the gravitational potential energy of a 300.0 g coffee cup sitting on a table top 1.25 m above the floor?
GPE=mgh
676
To calculate the gravitational potential energy of an object, we need to know its mass, the acceleration due to gravity, and the height above the reference point. In this case, the mass of the coffee cup is given as 300.0 g, and the height above the floor is 1.25 m.
To calculate the gravitational potential energy, we can use the formula:
Gravitational Potential Energy (GPE) = mass × acceleration due to gravity × height
First, let's convert the mass of the coffee cup from grams to kilograms:
300.0 g = 300.0 g ÷ 1000 = 0.300 kg
Next, we need to know the acceleration due to gravity, which is approximately 9.8 m/s^2 on the surface of the Earth.
Using these values in the formula:
GPE = 0.300 kg × 9.8 m/s^2 × 1.25 m
Now, let's calculate the answer:
GPE = 0.300 kg × 9.8 m/s^2 × 1.25 m = 3.675 J
Therefore, the gravitational potential energy of the coffee cup is 3.675 Joules.