Question

#4 HELP PLEASE! Find Gravitational Potential Energy! THANK YOU!

Answer 1

Answer:

$\Delta GPE=-3.92\ 10^9\ J$

Explanation:

Gravitational Potential Energy

It's the capacity of an object to do work due to its relative height from a fixed reference point.

It's computed as

GPE=m.g.h

Where m is the mass of the object, h is its height and g is the acceleration of gravity, $g=9.8 m/sec^2$

The mass of water is given as

$m=8,000,000\ kg$

The height above the rocks is h=50 m. Let's compute the GPE

$GPE_1=(8,000,000\ kg)(9.8\ m/s^2)(50\ m)$

$GPE_1=3,920,000,000\ Joule$

It should be expressed in scientific notation

$GPE_1=3.92\ 10^9\ J$

The GPE at the bottom, where h=0

$GPE_2=0$

The change of gravitational potential energy is:

$\Delta GPE=GPE_2-GPE_1$

$\boxed{\Delta GPE=-3.92\ 10^9\ J}$