Question

Suppose a skydiver (mass = 80kg) is falling toward the Earth. Calculate the skydiver’s gravitational potential energy at a point when the skydiver is 100m above the Earth.

(Show the equation, show your work and answer with units.)

Answer 1

The gravitational potential energy of the skydiver=
`79200 k g m^(2) / s^(2)`

Given:

Mass of the skydiver=80kg

Distance of the skydiver from the earth=100m

To find:

Gravitational potential energy of the skydiver

Step by Step Explanation:

Solution:

According to the formula, Gravitational Potential Energy (GHE) is calculated as

`\text {Gravitational Potential Energy(GHE)}=m g h`

Where m= Mass of the skydiver

g=Acceleration due to gravity

h=Distance of the skydiver from the earth

Substitute the known values in the above equation we get

`G H E=80 * 9.8 * 100`

`=79200 \mathrm{kg} \mathrm{m}^(2) / \mathrm{s}^(2)`

Result:

Thus the gravitational potential energy of the skydiver is =
`79200 k g m^(2) / s^(2)`

Answer 2

80,000 Joules or 80KJ

Step-by-step explanation:

Gravitational potential energy is defined as the energy possessed by a body under the influence of gravitational force. The body will therefore possess acceleration due to gravity (g).

Mathematically,

Gravitational potential energy = mass (m) × acceleration due to gravity (g) × height (h)

Given mass of skydiver = 80kg

Height = 100m

taking g = 10m/s²

Substituting the values given in the formula to get the gravitational potential energy, we will have;

GPE = 80×100×10

GPE = 80,000Joules

GPE = 80KJ