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What is the potential energy of a cat that weighs 20 n sitting in a pet crat 5 m off the ground?

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Answer:

The potential energy of an object is calculated using the formula: potential energy = mass × acceleration due to gravity × height. In this case, we can calculate the potential energy of the cat using the given information.

Step 1: Convert the weight of the cat from Newtons (N) to kilograms (kg). The weight of an object in Newtons is equal to its mass in kilograms multiplied by the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s²). So, we can calculate the mass of the cat using the formula: mass = weight ÷ acceleration due to gravity.

Given: weight of the cat = 20 N

Acceleration due to gravity = 9.8 m/s²

Using the formula: mass = weight ÷ acceleration due to gravity

mass = 20 N ÷ 9.8 m/s² = 2.04 kg (approximately)

Step 2: Calculate the potential energy using the formula: potential energy = mass × acceleration due to gravity × height.

Given: height = 5 m

Acceleration due to gravity = 9.8 m/s²

mass = 2.04 kg (approximately)

Using the formula: potential energy = mass × acceleration due to gravity × height

potential energy = 2.04 kg × 9.8 m/s² × 5 m = 100 J (approximately)

Therefore, the potential energy of the cat sitting in the pet crate 5 m off the ground is approximately 100 Joules (J).

User Myabc
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Final answer:

The potential energy of a cat weighing 20 N sitting 5 m off the ground is calculated using the gravitational potential energy formula PE = Fh, resulting in a potential energy of 100 Joules.

Step-by-step explanation:

The potential energy of a cat that weighs 20 N and is sitting 5 m above the ground can be calculated using the formula for gravitational potential energy, which is PE = mgh. In this case, the force due to gravity (weight) is 20 N, and the height (h) is 5 m. The acceleration due to gravity (g) is approximately 9.81 m/s², but since the weight is already given (which is the product of mass and gravitational acceleration), we simply use the weight in the calculation.

The formula simplifies to PE = Fh, where F is the weight. Therefore, the potential energy (PE) of the cat is:

PE = 20 N * 5 m = 100 J.

Thus, the cat has a potential energy of 100 Joules when sitting in the pet crate 5 meters off the ground.

User Jacknad
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