What is the gravitational potential energy of a # 5 kg# object on a shelf # 4/9 m # high?

1 Answer
May 19, 2016

#2xx10J#

Explanation:

Step 1
As physics calculations requires all values to be done in decimals, start by converting #4/9m# into decimal form.

#4/9mcolor(blue)(rArr)0.44m#

Step 2
To find the gravitational potential energy, we can use the formula:

#DeltaE_g#

#=E_"g,final"-E_"g,initial"#

#=mgh_f-mgh_i#

#=mg(h_f-h_i)#

Since #h_f# represents the final height of the object, then it must equal to #0.44m#. Similarly, since #h_i# represents the initial height of the object, then it must equal to #0m#.

Substituting the values into the formula,

#=(5kg)(9.81m/s^2)(0.44m-0m)#

#=21.58J#

#~~color(green)(|bar(ul(color(white)(a/a)color(black)(2xx10J)color(white)(a/a)|)))#