Question

A car jumps off a ramp with a Kinetic energy of 5,000 joules. This same car has a gravitational potential energy of 4,685 joules at some point when it is falling to the ground, after jumping off the ramp. When the car lands on the ground, the springs of this car’s suspension compress and then come back to normal exerting an elastic potential energy of 4,968 joules.
What is the car’s total mechanical energy (TME)?

Answer 1

Answer:

14,653 J.

Explanation:

We know that,

Total mechanical energy is equal to the sum of all the potential and kinetic energies.

Given,

Kinetic energy when a car jumps off a ramp= 5000 J

Potential energy = 4685 J

Potential energy when the car lands= 4968 J

TME = 5000 + 4685 + 4968

        = 14,653 J

Hence, the car's total mechanical engery is equal to 14,653 J.