Question

Tsunami waves generally carry a mass (m) of 770 kg of water, travel at a velocity (v) of approximately 10 m/s and have a height (h) of 10 m at landfall. The colony structures can withstand a total energy (TE) 135,000 J before catastrophic damage occurs.ANSWER (a) AND (b)(a) Using your answers from #4 and #5 calculate the total energy (TE) of a tsunami wave. TE = KE + PE (b) Using your calculations and the provided data, explain to the colonizing council whether this crash site can be used to start a colony.

Answer 1

(a)

Potential energy = 75460 J

Kinetic energy = 38500 J

Total energy = 113960 J

(b)

The site can be used to start a colony.

Explanation:

Given:

Mass (m) = 770 kg

Velocity (v) = 10m/s

Height (h) = 10 m

(a)

We calculate in each case the kinetic and potential energy by means of their formulas

`\begin{gathered} E_k=(1)/(2)m\cdot v^2=(1)/(2)\cdot770\cdot10^2=38500\text{ J} \\ E_p=m\cdot g\cdot h=770\cdot9.8\cdot10=75460\text{ J} \end{gathered}`

The total energy is the sum of both calculated energies:

`\begin{gathered} E_T=38500+75460 \\ E_T=113960\text{ J} \end{gathered}`

(b)

Since the tsunami energy is less than the energy that can destroy the colony, then the site can support a permanent colony.