Question

What is the potential energy of a train car that has a mass of 1600 kg sitting 120 meters above the track

Answer 1

`\boxed {\boxed {\sf 1,881, 600 \ Joules}}`

Step-by-step explanation:

Potential energy is the product of mass, gravitational acceleration, and height.

`E_p= mgh`

The mass is 1600 kilograms and the height is 120 meters. Assuming this is on Earth, then the gravitational acceleration is 9.8 meters per square second.

`m= 1600 \ kg\\g= 9.8 \ m/s^2 \\h= 120 \ m`

Substitute the values into the formula.

`E_p= ( 1600 \ kg )( 9.8 \ m/s^2)( 120 \ m)`

Multiply the first two numbers.

`E_p= 15680 \ kg*m/s^2 (120 \ m )`

Multiply again.

`E_p= 1881600 \ kg*m^2/s^2`

• 1 kg square meter per square second is equal to 1 Joule.
• Our answer is equal to 1881600 Joules

`E_p= 1881600 \ J`

The train's potential energy is 1,881,600 Joules.