If a 5 kg object is dropped from a height of 20 m, what is its potential energy
Practice Questions
Q1
If a 5 kg object is dropped from a height of 20 m, what is its potential energy at the top? (2021)
100 J
200 J
50 J
150 J
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
If a 5 kg object is dropped from a height of 20 m, what is its potential energy at the top? (2021)
Step 1: Identify the mass of the object. In this case, the mass (m) is 5 kg.
Step 2: Identify the height from which the object is dropped. Here, the height (h) is 20 m.
Step 3: Identify the acceleration due to gravity (g). The standard value is approximately 9.8 m/s².
Step 4: Use the formula for potential energy (PE), which is PE = m * g * h.
Step 5: Substitute the values into the formula: PE = 5 kg * 9.8 m/s² * 20 m.
Step 6: Calculate the potential energy: 5 * 9.8 * 20 = 980 J.
Step 7: Round the answer if needed. Here, 980 J is approximately 1000 J.
Potential Energy – Potential energy is the energy stored in an object due to its position in a gravitational field, calculated using the formula PE = m * g * h.