Question

The lowest point in Death Valley is 85 m below sea level. Thesummit of nearby Mt. Whitney has an elevation of 4420 m. Whatis the change in potential energy when an energetic 65 kg hikermakes it from the floor of Death Valley to the top of Mt. Whitney?

Answer 1

`\begin{gathered} g=9.81\text{ m/s}^2 \\ m=65kg \\ P=mgh \\ In\text{ this case} \\ h=4420m+85m \\ h=4505m \\ P=(65kg)(9.81\text{ m/s}^2)(4505m) \\ P=2872613.25J \\ The\text{ change in potential energy is 2872613.25J} \end{gathered}`