Final answer:
The potential energy of a rock with a weight of 156.8 Newtons just before it ends its 5-meter fall is 784 Joules, assuming no air resistance and complete conversion to kinetic energy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is asking about the potential energy of a rock of weight 156.8 Newtons just before it ends its fall after dropping 5 meters. In physics, potential energy (PE) due to gravity can be calculated using the formula PE = mgh, where m is the mass of the object, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height the object falls from. In this case, the weight of the rock (156.8 N) is already the product of its mass and gravity (W = mg), so we can rearrange the formula to find the potential energy using the weight directly: PE = Wh.
Therefore, the potential energy just before the rock ends its 5-meter fall is:
PE = 156.8 N * 5 m = 784 Joules.
Assuming that air resistance is negligible, this potential energy will be completely converted to kinetic energy just before the rock hits the ground, as per the Law of Conservation of Energy.