Final answer:
The Olympic diver, with a mass of 45 kg diving from a 30 m platform, has potential energy calculated using the formula PE = mgh, resulting in 13,230 Joules or 13.23 kJ of energy before the dive.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is about the gravitational potential energy (PE) of an Olympic diver about to dive from a 30 m platform. To calculate the diver's potential energy before the dive, we use the formula PE = mgh, where m is the mass of the diver, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height of the platform.
Given that the mass of the diver (m) is 45 kg, the acceleration due to gravity (g) is approximately 9.8 m/s², and the height of the dive (h) is 30 m, we can calculate the potential energy as follows:
PE = mgh
PE = 45 kg × 9.8 m/s² × 30 m
PE = 13,230 Joules or 13.23 kJ
Therefore, the Olympic diver has a potential energy of 13.23 kJ before the dive.