Final answer:
The energy of the apple can be determined by calculating its potential energy using the equation PE = mgh. In this case, the mass of the apple is 4 kg and the height of the tree branch is 2 m. The correct answer is 78.4 J.
Step-by-step explanation:
The energy of the apple can be determined by calculating its potential energy. The potential energy of an object at a certain height h is given by the equation PE = mgh, where m is the mass of the object, g is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s^2), and h is the height of the object.
In this case, the mass of the apple is 4 kg and the height of the tree branch is 2 m. Plugging these values into the equation, we get PE = (4 kg)(9.8 m/s^2)(2 m) = 78.4 J.
Therefore, the correct answer is a) 78.4 J.