Calculate the potential energy of a pawpaw fruit with a mass of 5g hanging at a height of 1200cm. Take the acceleration due to gravity as 9.8 N/kg.
Answer (2)
The potential energy of a pawpaw fruit with a mass of 5 grams hanging at a height of 1200 cm is calculated to be 0.588 Joules. This is determined using the formula for potential energy, taking care to convert units to kilograms and meters. By using the mass and height, along with the acceleration due to gravity, we find the energy stored in the fruit due to its position.
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Convert mass from grams to kilograms: m = 1000 5 = 0.005 k g .
Convert height from centimeters to meters: h = 100 1200 = 12 m .
Calculate potential energy using P . E = m g h : P . E = 0.005 × 9.8 × 12 = 0.588 J .
The potential energy of the pawpaw fruit is 0.588 J .
Explanation
Understanding the Problem and Units We are asked to calculate the potential energy (P.E) of a pawpaw fruit. Here's what we know:
The mass of the fruit, m = 5 g .
The height at which the fruit is hanging, h = 1200 c m .
The acceleration due to gravity, g = 9.8 N / k g .
Our goal is to find the potential energy using the formula P . E = m g h , but first, we need to make sure our units are consistent!
Converting Mass to Kilograms Let's convert the mass from grams to kilograms. Since there are 1000 grams in a kilogram, we divide the mass in grams by 1000:
m ( k g ) = 1000 m ( g ) = 1000 5 = 0.005 k g
Converting Height to Meters Next, let's convert the height from centimeters to meters. Since there are 100 centimeters in a meter, we divide the height in centimeters by 100:
h ( m ) = 100 h ( c m ) = 100 1200 = 12 m
Calculating Potential Energy Now that we have the mass in kilograms and the height in meters, we can calculate the potential energy using the formula:
P . E = m g h = ( 0.005 k g ) × ( 9.8 N / k g ) × ( 12 m )
P . E = 0.005 × 9.8 × 12 = 0.588 J o u l es
Final Answer Therefore, the potential energy of the pawpaw fruit is 0.588 Joules.
Examples
Potential energy is a fundamental concept in physics that helps us understand how energy is stored in objects due to their position. For example, when designing roller coasters, engineers use the concept of potential energy to ensure that the cars have enough energy to complete the ride. The cars gain potential energy as they are lifted to the highest point, and this energy is then converted into kinetic energy as they descend, providing the thrilling ride experience. Understanding and calculating potential energy is crucial in various fields, including engineering, physics, and even sports, to optimize performance and safety.
