Question

As an acapulco cliff diver drops to the water from a height of 42.0 m, his gravitational potential energy decreases by 27,500 j. what is the diver's weight in newtons?

Answer 1

We know that potential energy is simply energy due to position which has the formula:

PE = mass * gravity * height

We know that mass * gravity is weight, therefore:

PE = weight * height

27500 J = weight * 42 m

weight = 654.76 Newtons