Final answer:
To find the height where the 10kg mass should be to have a potential energy of 50J, use the formula PE = mgh, resulting in h = 0.5m. The provided options do not match this calculation, suggesting there may be an issue with the question or options given.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine at what height above the ground a 10kg mass must be positioned to possess a potential energy of 50J in a gravitational field where g=10m/s², you can use the formula for gravitational potential energy, which is PE = mgh, where:
- PE is the potential energy,
- m is the mass of the object,
- g is the acceleration due to gravity,
- h is the height above the ground.
Plugging in the given values:
50J = 10kg × 10m/s² × h
Divide both sides by (10kg × 10m/s²):
h = 50J / (10kg × 10m/s²)
h = 0.5m
However, the options provided in the question do not include the answer of 0.5m, which could mean there might have been an oversight in the question or a possible typo in the options. Based on the calculation with the formulas from physics, none of the options listed (A) 2.5 meters, (B) 5 meters, (C) 10 meters, (D) 20 meters, (E) 25 meters, are correct.