Question

The largest watermelon ever grown had a mass of 118 kg. Suppose this watermelon were exhibited on a platform 5.00 m above the ground. After the exhibition, the watermelon is allowed to slide along to the ground along a smooth ramp. How high above the ground is the watermelon at the moment its kinetic energy is 4.61 kJ?

Answer 1

Answer: height = 3.98m

Explanation: by placing the watermelon at a height above the ground, it has a potential energy of the formulae

p = mgh

p = potential energy = 4.61kJ = 4610J

m = mass of watermelon = 118 kg

g = acceleration due gravity = 9.8 m/s²

4610 = 118 * 9.8 * h

h = 4610/ 118 * 9.8

h = 4610/ 1156.4

h = 3.98m