Answer:
The potential energy (PE) of an object is given by:
PE = mgh
where m is the mass of the object, g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s² near the Earth's surface), and h is the height of the object above a reference level.
In this case, the mass of the clam is 0.11 kg, the height above the beach is 11.5 m, and the acceleration due to gravity is 9.8 m/s². Therefore, the potential energy of the clam is:
PE = (0.11 kg) × (9.8 m/s²) × (11.5 m) ≈ 12.7 J
So the potential energy of the clam is approximately 12.7 Joules.