Question

Below is the formula for the gravitational potential energy of an object U, in terms of mass m, height h, and the gravitational constant g. Solve in terms of mass:

U=mgh

Answer 1

To solve the gravitational potential energy formula for mass, divide the potential energy by the product of the gravitational acceleration and height: U = mgh becomes m = U / (gh).

Step-by-step explanation:

To solve the equation U = mgh in terms of the mass m, you need to isolate the variable m. Given that gravitational potential energy (U) is the product of m, the gravitational constant g, and height h, you can rearrange this equation to solve for mass by dividing both sides of the equation by gh.

So, the formula for the mass m in terms of gravitational potential energy U, gravitational constant g, and height h is:
m = U / (gh)

This calculation allows us to understand how the mass of an object relates to the potential energy it possesses due to its position within a gravitational field, specifically at a height h above the ground.