Question

A construction worker is repairing the roof of a house. His hammer of mass 0.50 kg slips from his hand and falls through a basketball hoop to the driveway below. The basketball hoop is 3.1 m above the ground and 5.0 m below the roof where the hammer left the worker's hand. Setting the reference configuration to the roof at the point of the hammer's release, calculate the change in potential energy of the system.

Answer 1

∆E = −39.73 J

The change in potential energy of the system is -39.73J

Step-by-step explanation:

Change in potential energy ∆E;

∆E = mg∆h

Where;

m = mass

g = acceleration due to gravity

∆h = change in height

Given;

m = 0.50 kg

∆h = 0 - (3.1+5) = - 8.1m

g = 9.81 m/s^2

∆E = 0.50 × 9.81 × -8.1

∆E = −39.73 J

the change in potential energy of the system is -39.73J