Question

A 2−kg mass is moving along the horizontal x axis. The gravitational potential energy curve as a function of horizontal position is shown below. When the mass is at x=2.0 m, what is it's approximate vertical nncition?

A) 2.0 m
B) 0.50 m
C) 10 m
D) 1.0 m
E) 1.5 m

Answer 1

Without the graphical curve provided, we cannot determine the exact vertical position of the 2−kg mass at A. x=2.0 m. Typically, we would use the formula U(y) = mgy to find the height, provided we know the gravitational potential energy at that point.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine the approximate vertical position of a 2-kg mass based on its gravitational potential energy at a certain horizontal position, we use the formula for gravitational potential energy, which is U(y) = mgy where U is the potential energy, m is the mass, g is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s2), and y is the height above the reference point.

If the gravitational potential energy graph is not provided, we cannot compute the exact position. However, with the information usually provided, you would equate the gravitational potential energy to the mass times the gravitational acceleration times the height to solve for the vertical position. In practice, if the given potential energy at x=2.0 m was, for example, 19.6 J, you would then solve for y: 19.6 J = (2 kg)(9.8 m/s2)y, which gives y = 1.0 m.