Final answer:
The approximate magnitude of the change in the gravitational potential energy of the book when moved from a higher to a lower shelf is 11.76 Joules.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question involves the change in gravitational potential energy when a student moves a book from one shelf to another. The formula to calculate gravitational potential energy is mgh, where m is the mass of the object, g is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s²), and h is the height above the reference point.
To find the approximate magnitude of the change in gravitational potential energy of the book:
- The mass of the book (m) is 1.50 kg.
- The change in height (h) is from 2.00 meters to 1.20 meters, which means the book has been moved down by 0.80 meters (2.00 m - 1.20 m).
- The formula for the change in gravitational potential energy (ΔPE) is ΔPE = mgh.
Substituting the values:
ΔPE = (1.50 kg) × (9.8 m/s²) × (0.80 m) = 11.76 J
Therefore, the approximate magnitude of the change in the gravitational potential energy of the book is 11.76 Joules.