Final answer:
The gravitational potential energy of a 2.0 kg book relative to the table 0.6 m above the floor, when lifted to a shelf 1.8 m above the floor, is 23.52 Joules.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question involves calculating the gravitational potential energy of a book relative to the table that is 0.6 m above the floor when it is lifted 1.8 m above the floor. The formula for gravitational potential energy (GPE) is GPE = mgh, where:
- m is the mass of the object,
- g is the acceleration due to gravity,
- and h is the height of the object above the reference point.
In this case, the mass of the book (m) is 2.0 kg and the height (h) relative to the table, which is our reference point, is 1.8 m (height above the floor) - 0.6 m (height of the table above the floor) = 1.2 m. The acceleration due to gravity (g) is approximately 9.8 m/s2. Plugging these values into the GPE formula gives:
GPE = (2.0 kg) * (9.8 m/s2) * (1.2 m) = 23.52 J.
Therefore, the gravitational potential energy of the book relative to the table is 23.52 Joules.