Final answer:
To find the potential energy of a 36kg child at the top of a 6 meter slide, use the formula PE = mgh; substituting the values gives a potential energy of 2116.8 Joules.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the potential energy of a 36kg child at the top of a 6 meter slide, we can use the formula for gravitational potential energy, which is PE = mgh, where m is the mass, g is the acceleration due to gravity (approximated to 9.8 m/s²), and h is the height. For this scenario, the mass (m) is 36kg, the acceleration due to gravity (g) is 9.8 m/s², and the height (h) is 6 meters.
Substituting the values into the formula gives us:
PE = 36kg * 9.8 m/s² * 6 m = 2116.8 J
Therefore, the potential energy of the child at the top of the slide is 2116.8 Joules (J).