Question

On top of a 3 m tall shelf sits a lonely 4.5 kg toy snake. How much gravitational potential energy (GPE) does this snake have if the shelf is on Earth? (g = 9.8 m/s^2)

A. 132.3 J
B. 44.1 J
C. 66.2 J
D. 88.2 J

Answer 1

The gravitational potential energy of the 4.5 kg toy snake sitting on a 3 m tall shelf on Earth is calculated using the formula G.P.E. = mgh, which yields a GPE of 132.3 Joules.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks how much gravitational potential energy (GPE) a 4.5 kg toy snake has when sitting on top of a 3 m tall shelf on Earth. The formula to calculate gravitational potential energy is G.P.E. = mgh, where m is the mass in kg, g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s² on Earth) and h is the height in meters.

Substituting the given values into the formula, we get G.P.E. = (4.5 kg)(9.8 m/s²)(3 m) = 132.3 Joules. Therefore, the correct answer is A. 132.3 J.