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

Potential energy will be
`176.58* 10^(11)j`

Step-by-step explanation:

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

Area of the basin
`A=5* 10^7m^2`

Volume
`V=area * height=5* 10^7* 6=30* 10^7m^3`

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

We know that mass is given by
`m=\rho V=1000* 30* 10^7=3* 10^(11)kg`

We know that potential energy is given by
`E=mgh=3* 10^(11)* 9.81* 6=176.58* 10^(11)j`