Final answer:
The gravitational potential energy of a person is calculated using the formula GPE = mgh. Without the height from which the person with a mass of 55kg falls, we cannot determine the GPE. An example calculation for a fall from 2m height gives a GPE of 1078 J.
Step-by-step explanation:
The gravitational potential energy (GPE) of an object is given by the formula GPE = mgh, where m is the mass of the object, g is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s² on Earth), and h is the height above the reference point.
In the question provided, the speed of falling off the chair is not directly relevant to calculating gravitational potential energy, because GPE only depends on the height from which the person falls, not the speed at which they fall. Unfortunately, the height is not given in this question, so we cannot calculate the GPE without that information.
However, we can provide an example similar to the question: If a person with a mass of 55kg falls from a height of 2m, their GPE can be calculated as follows: GPE = 55kg * 9.8 m/s² * 2m. This results in a GPE of approximately 1078 Joules (J).