Question

A 66-kg skier starts from rest at the top of a 1200-m long trail which drops a total of 240 m from top to bottom. At the bottom, the skier is moving at a speed of 11 m/s. What is the skier's change in potential energy?

Answer 1

The skier's change in potential energy is 155040 J.

Step-by-step explanation:

The change in potential energy of the skier can be calculated using the formula:

ΔPE = mgh

Where ΔPE is the change in potential energy, m is the mass of the skier (66 kg), g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s²), and h is the change in height (240 m).

Substituting the given values into the formula:

ΔPE = (66 kg)(9.8 m/s²)(240 m)

Simplifying the expression, the skier's change in potential energy is:

ΔPE = 155040 J