High School

Determine the gain in potential energy of a 5 kg mass as it is raised 2.00 m from the surface of the Earth.

a) 98 J
b) 10 J
c) 50 J
d) 20 J

Answer :

Final answer:

The potential energy gain of a 5 kg mass raised by 2.00 m from the surface of the Earth is 98 J. This is calculated by multiplying the mass, gravitational acceleration, and height raised.

Explanation:

The gain in potential energy for a mass as it is raised can be calculated using the formula:

Potential Energy (PE) = mass (m) × gravitational acceleration (g) × height (h)

Given a mass of 5 kg and a height of 2.00 m, and using the standard gravitational acceleration of 9.80 m/s² on Earth, the calculation is:

PE = 5 kg × 9.80 m/s² × 2.00 m = 98 J

Therefore, the correct answer is (a) 98 J.