Question

An 114 kg man climbs up a 1 m high flight of stairs. The acceleration of gravity is 9.81 m/s 2 . What is the increase in the gravitational potential energy of the man-earth system? Answer in units of kJ.

Answer 1

1.118KJ

Step-by-step explanation:

Potential energy is the energy possessed by a body by virtue of its position.

If the body has a mass (m), and climbs through height (h), the potential energy will be mass×acceleration due to gravity×height

P.E = mgh

Given m = 114kg, g = 9.81m/s² h = 1m

P.E = 114×9.81×1

P.E = 1,118.34Joules

P.E = 1.118KJ

This shows that increase in the gravitational potential energy of the man-earth system is 1.118KJ