Question

A 2.4-kg mass starts from rest at point a and moves along the x axis subject to the potential energy shown in the figure below. What is the potential energy of the mass at point b?

1) Cannot be determined
2) 20 J
3) 30 J
4) 40 J

Answer 1

The potential energy of the mass at point b cannot be determined without additional information, such as the potential energy function or a graph showing potential energy versus position.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine the potential energy at point b for a 2.4-kg mass, we would need to know the function that describes the potential energy with respect to the position on the x-axis or have a graph of potential energy versus position to read from.

Without the provided graph or function in the question, we cannot know the exact potential energy at point b, thus the correct answer is that the potential energy cannot be determined with the given information.

If the potential energy function or graph were provided, we could find the potential energy at point b by identifying the value that corresponds to the position of point b on the x-axis.