Question

Given the information in the illustration and understanding that the gravitational potential energy of an object on Earth can be calculated using the formula PE = m x g x h, in which m = mass in kilograms, g = the acceleration due to gravity, and h = height in meters, what was the change in mechanical potential energy of the spring after the mass was placed on it?

Answer 1

The change in potential energy of a spring after placing a mass on it is calculated with the formula ΔPEg = mgh, where m is mass, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and Δh is the change in height due to spring compression.

Step-by-step explanation:

The change in mechanical potential energy of the spring after a mass is placed on it can be calculated using the formula for gravitational potential energy (PE), which is defined as:

• PE = m x g x h,

where:

• m is mass in kilograms,
• g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s2 on Earth), and
• h is the height in meters

that the mass is raised or lowered.

If the mass m is placed on a spring, causing the spring to compress and reduce the mass's height by h, the change in gravitational potential energy can be represented as:

• ΔPEg = m x g x Δh.

To find the change in gravitational potential energy (ΔPEg), one needs to know the initial and final height of the mass in relation to the spring's uncompressed state, and then apply the equation factoring the change in height (Δh).