A book on a shelf 2.0 meters above the floor has a mass of 1.5 kilograms. What is the gravitational potential energy of the book?
m g h = 1.5 * 9.8 * 2.0 Joules relative to the floor level
29.4J
29.4 J
29.4J
To calculate the gravitational potential energy (PE) of an object, you need to use the formula:
PE = m × g × h
Where:
- PE is the gravitational potential energy,
- m is the mass of the object,
- g is the acceleration due to gravity, and
- h is the height or vertical distance the object is lifted.
In this case, the given values are:
- m = 1.5 kilograms (mass of the book)
- g = 9.8 meters per second squared (acceleration due to gravity)
- h = 2.0 meters (height of the shelf above the floor)
Now, you can substitute the values into the formula to calculate the gravitational potential energy (PE):
PE = 1.5 kg × 9.8 m/s² × 2.0 m
Simplifying the expression, you get:
PE = 29.4 Joules
Therefore, the gravitational potential energy of the book on the shelf is 29.4 Joules.