College

What is the potential energy of a 25 kg bicycle resting at the top of a hill 3 m high?

(Formula: [tex]PE = mgh[/tex])

A. 75 J
B. 735 J
C. 245 J
D. 37.8 J

Answer :

Sure! Let's find the potential energy of a 25 kg bicycle resting at the top of a hill 3 meters high.

The formula to calculate potential energy is:

[tex]\[ PE = m \cdot g \cdot h \][/tex]

where:

- [tex]\( m \)[/tex] is the mass in kilograms (kg),
- [tex]\( g \)[/tex] is the acceleration due to gravity, which is approximately [tex]\( 9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2 \)[/tex],
- [tex]\( h \)[/tex] is the height in meters (m).

Step-by-step solution:

1. Identify the mass of the bicycle: [tex]\( m = 25 \, \text{kg} \)[/tex].

2. Identify the height of the hill: [tex]\( h = 3 \, \text{m} \)[/tex].

3. Use the known value for gravity: [tex]\( g = 9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2 \)[/tex].

4. Plug these values into the formula:

[tex]\[ PE = 25 \cdot 9.8 \cdot 3 \][/tex]

5. Calculate the potential energy:

[tex]\[ PE = 25 \cdot 9.8 \cdot 3 = 735 \][/tex]

The potential energy of the bicycle at the top of the hill is 735 joules. So, the correct answer is 735 J.