Answer: 4.9 x 10^6 joules
Explanation:
Given that:
mass of boulder (m) = 2,500 kg
Height of ledge above canyon floor (h) = 200 m
Gravita-tional potential energy of the boulder (GPE) = ?
Since potential energy is the energy possessed by a body at rest, and it depends on the mass of the object (m), gravitational acceleration (g), and height (h).
GPE = mgh
GPE = 2500kg x 9.8m/s2 x 200m
GPE = 4900000J
Place result in standard form
GPE = 4.9 x 10^6J
Thus, the gravita-tional potential energy of the boulder-Earth system relative to the canyon floor is 4.9 x 10^6 joules
