Question

Suppose a tidal basin is 6 m above the ocean at low tide and that the area of the basin is 5×107 m2. Estimate the gravitational potential energy change if the water is released from the tidal basin to the low-tide ocean level. The density of water is 1000 kg/m3. (Hint: The level does not change by 6 m for all of the water.)

Answer 1

Answer:

Potential energy will be $176.58\times 10^{11}j$          

Explanation:

We have given the height of the basin is h = 6 m

Area of the basin $A=5\times 10^7m^2$

Volume $V=area \times height=5\times 10^7\times 6=30\times 10^7m^3$

Density $\rho =1000kg/m^3$

We know that mass is given by $m=\rho V=1000\times 30\times 10^7=3\times 10^{11}kg$

We know that potential energy is given by $E=mgh=3\times 10^{11}\times 9.81\times 6=176.58\times 10^{11}j$