Final answer:
The gravitational potential energy gained by the light aircraft taking off to an altitude of 500m is 3,431,000 Joules.
Step-by-step explanation:
The gravitational potential energy gained by the light aircraft can be calculated using the formula:
Gravitational Potential Energy (GPE) = mgh
Where m is the mass of the aircraft, g is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s²), and h is the change in altitude.
Given that the mass of the aircraft is 700 kg and the change in altitude is 500 m, we can plug these values into the formula to calculate the GPE:
GPE = (700 kg) * (9.8 m/s²) * (500 m) = 3,431,000 J (Joules)