Final answer:
The change in gravitational potential energy for a person with a mass of 45 kg moving through a vertical height of 2.0 m is 882 joules, calculated using the formula GPE = mgh.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is asking about the change in gravitational potential energy (GPE) when a person using a zip wire moves through a vertical height. Gravitational potential energy can be calculated using the formula GPE = mgh, where m is the mass, g is the gravitational field strength, and h is the change in height. In this case, the mass (m) of the person is 45 kg, the gravitational field strength (g) is 9.8 N/kg, and the vertical height (h) is 2.0 m.
The change in gravitational potential energy is therefore:
GPE = mgh = 45 kg × 9.8 N/kg × 2.0 m = 882 J
So, the change in gravitational potential energy of the person as they moved through the 2.0 m vertical height is 882 joules.