Question

An 75-kg hiker climbs to the summit of Mount Mitchell in western North Carolina. During one 2.0-h period, the climber's vertical elevation increases 540 m. Determine the change in gravitational potential energy of the climber-Earth system.

Answer 1

Answer:

The change in gravitational potential energy of the climber-Earth system is  $\Delta PE = 396900 \ J$

Explanation:

From the question we are told that

    The mass of the hiker is  $m = 75 \ kg$

    The time  taken is  $T = 2 \ hr = 2 * 3600 = 7200 \ s$

    The  vertical elevation after time  T is  $H = 540 \ m$

   

The  change  in gravitational potential is  mathematically represented as

         $\Delta PE = mgH$

here g is the acceleration due to gravity with value  $g = 9.8 \ m/s^2$  

     substituting values  

        $\Delta PE = 75 * 9.8 * 540$

       $\Delta PE = 396900 \ J$