Question

A 0.31 kg stone is held 1.5 m above the top edge of a water well and then dropped into it. The weil has a depeh of 47 mm. Relstive to the configuration with the stone at the top edge of the wes, what is the gravitational potential energy sf the stone-Earth spatem before the stone in reieaied?

Answer 1

The gravitational potential energy of the stone-Earth system before the stone is released is calculated using the equation GPE = mgh. With a mass of 0.31 kg and a height of 1.5 meters, the gravitational potential energy is found to be 4.557 joules.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks for the gravitational potential energy (GPE) of a stone-Earth system before the stone is released. The mass of the stone is given as 0.31 kg, and it is held 1.5 meters above the top edge of a well with a depth of 47 meters. However, since we are only considering the position before the stone is dropped, only the initial height above the well is relevant.

To calculate the GPE of an object near the surface of the Earth, we use the equation GPE = mgh, where:

• m is the mass of the object,
• g is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s2),
• h is the height of the object above a reference point.

In this case, the GPE of the stone before it is released can be calculated as follows:

1. Identify the known values: mass m = 0.31 kg, gravity g = 9.8 m/s2, height h = 1.5 m.
2. Plug the values into the GPE equation: GPE = 0.31 kg * 9.8 m/s2 * 1.5 m.
3. Calculate the GPE: GPE = 4.557 J.

Therefore, the gravitational potential energy of the stone before it is dropped is 4.557 joules (J).