Final answer:
The gravitational potential energy of a 100 kilogram boulder at the top of an 80-meter-high cliff is 78400 Joules, using the standard gravitational acceleration of 9.8 m/s².
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the gravitational potential energy of a round 100 kilogram boulder positioned at the top of an 80-meter-high cliff, we use the formula:
Gravitational Potential Energy (GPE) = mass (m) × gravitational acceleration (g) × height (h)
In this case, assuming that the gravitational acceleration (g) is approximately 9.8 m/s², which is the standard value near the Earth's surface, the calculation would be:
GPE = 100 kg × 9.8 m/s² × 80 m
Therefore, the gravitational potential energy of the boulder at the top of the cliff is:
GPE = 78400 Joules (J)
Which indicates that the boulder has the ability to do 78400 Joules of work due to its position at the top of the cliff.