Question

A 4.24 kg chandelier hangs from the ceiling of a large ballroom. If the chandelier is 8.81 m above the floor, what is its gravitational potential energy relative to the floor?

Answer 1

The gravitational potential energy of a 4.24 kg chandelier hanging 8.81 m above the floor is 366.8 J, calculated using the formula GPE = mgh.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the gravitational potential energy (GPE) of the 4.24 kg chandelier relative to the floor, we use the formula GPE = mgh, where:

• m is the mass of the object (in kilograms)
• g is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.81 m/s² on Earth)
• h is the height above the reference point (in meters)

Thus, for the 4.24 kg chandelier hanging 8.81 m above the floor, the GPE is:

GPE = (4.24 kg) × (9.81 m/s²) × (8.81 m)

Now we perform the multiplication:

GPE = 366.8 J (rounded to one decimal place)

The chandelier has 366.8 J of gravitational potential energy relative to the floor.