Question

A 4 kg cat sits on a tree branch 2 meters above the ground. How much potential energy does the cat have?

A. 78.4 J
B. 64 J
C. 20 J
D. 16 J

Answer 1

The gravitational potential energy of a 4 kg cat sitting on a tree branch 2 meters above the ground is calculated using the formula PE = mgh, which equals 78.4 J. Therefore, the correct answer is A. 78.4 J.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question involves finding the gravitational potential energy of a 4 kg cat that sits 2 meters above the ground. The formula to calculate gravitational potential energy (PE) is PE = mgh, where m is the mass in kilograms, g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s2 on Earth), and h is the height in meters. By substituting the respective values, we get:

PE = 4 kg × 9.8 m/s2 × 2 m = 78.4 J

So, the correct answer is A. 78.4 J, which is the amount of potential energy the cat has while sitting on the branch.