Question

Consider the 4-step staircase. All steps provide an equal elevation gain. The potential energy (PE) on the top step is 16.0 J. Determine the PE and KE values of the ball at the indicated positions. (I entered the other values)

Answer 1

Potential energy, PE = 0, 4, 8 and 12 at level 1, 2, 3, 4 respectively.

At Level 5, potential energy = 0 and Kinetic energy = 24 J.

Potential and Kinetic energy

Potential energy is the energy a body has by virtue of its position or state.

The formula for calculating the potentials energy of a body is given as:

• Potential energy, PE = mgh

where m = mass of the body

g = acceleration due to gravity

h = height

Kinetic energy is the the energy a body has by virtue of its motion.

The formula for calculating kinetic energy of a body is given as:

• Kinetic energy, KE = 1/2mv^2

The sum of the kinetic energy and potential energy of a body is constant.

Assume the ball has unit mass; m = 1

g = 10 m/s^2

At the top, total energy of the body = 16 + 8 = 24J

Calculating the gain in height for each step:

At Level 4, PE = 16 J

mgh = 16 J

1 × 10 × h = 16

h = 16/10

h = 1.6 m

Since there are four steps, each step will have a height increase = 1.6/4 = 0.4

At Level 1, h = 0

PE = 0 × 1 × 10

PE = 0 J

At Level 2, h = 0.4 m

PE = 0.4 × 1 × 10

PE = 4 J

At Level 3, h = 0.8 m

PE = 0.8 × 1 × 10

PE = 8 J

At Level 5, PE + KE = 24 J

Since PE = 0

KE = 24

Therefore, potential energy, PE = 0, 4, 8 and 12 at level 1, 2, 3, 4 respectively.

At Level 5, potential energy = 0 and Kinetic energy = 24 J.

Learn more about potential energy and Kinetic energy at: brainly.com/question/14427111