Question

A(n) 86.4 g ball is dropped from a height of 64 cm above a spring of negligible mass. The ball compresses the spring to a maximum displacement of 4.66233 cm. What is the potential energy of the ball when it is dropped?

1) 0.053 J
2) 0.064 J
3) 0.086 J
4) 0.109 J

Answer 1

The potential energy of the ball when it is dropped is 0.053 J.

Step-by-step explanation:

The potential energy of an object is given by the equation PE = mgh, where m is the mass of the object, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height of the object. In this case, the mass of the ball is 86.4 g, the acceleration due to gravity is 9.8 m/s^2, and the height above the spring is 64 cm. Converting the mass to kilograms and the height to meters, we can calculate the potential energy:

PE = (0.0864 kg) * (9.8 m/s^2) * (0.64 m) = 0.053 J

Therefore, the potential energy of the ball when it is dropped is approximately 0.053 Joules, which corresponds to option 1) 0.053 J.