Question

A 0.5 kg apple falls from a tree. When the apple is 1.5 meters above the ground it has a velocity of 2.4 m/s. What is the apple's total mechanical energy

Answer 1

8.7975 Joules

Step-by-step explanation:

Step one:

Given data

mass m= 0.5kg

height h= 1.5m

velocity v= 2.4m/s

The potential energy PE= mgh

The kinetic energy KE= 1/2mv^2

Step two

PE=0.5*9.81*1.5

PE=7.3575 Joules

KE= 1/2*0.5*2.4^2

KE=0.5*0.5*5.76

KE=1.44 Joules

The total mechanical energy is

PE+KE

=7.3575+1.44

=8.7975 Joules