Question

The superheroine Xanaxa, with a mass of 60.1 kg, is in a hair–raising chase after the 74.5 kg archvillain Lexlax. She leaps from the ground to the top of a 175 m high building, then dives off and comes to rest at the bottom of a 18.5 m deep excavation, where she finds Lexlax and neutralizes him?

Answer 1

Xanaxa's kinetic energy as she reaches the bottom of the excavation is 193,612.5 J.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the superheroine Xanaxa's kinetic energy during the chase, we can break it down into three steps. First, we calculate the potential energy gained when Xanaxa leaps to the top of the building. Second, we find her kinetic energy just before she dives off the building. Finally, we determine her kinetic energy at the bottom of the excavation.

Step 1:

Potential energy gained on the building = mgh

= (60.1 kg)(9.8 m/s²)(175 m)

= 103,787.5 J

Step 2:

Initial kinetic energy just before the dive = potential energy gained on the building

= 103,787.5 J

Step 3:

Kinetic energy at the bottom of the excavation = Initial kinetic energy + potential energy lost during the fall

= 103,787.5 J + mgh

= 193,612.5 J