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 :

To find the potential energy of a 25 kg bicycle resting at the top of a hill 3 meters high, we use the formula for potential energy:

[tex]\[ \text{Potential Energy} = m \times g \times h \][/tex]

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

Let's plug the given values into the formula:

1. Mass ([tex]\( m \)[/tex]): 25 kg
2. Gravity ([tex]\( g \)[/tex]): [tex]\( 9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2 \)[/tex]
3. Height ([tex]\( h \)[/tex]): 3 m

Substitute these values into the formula:

[tex]\[ \text{Potential Energy} = 25 \times 9.8 \times 3 \][/tex]

Calculate:

[tex]\[ \text{Potential Energy} = 735 \, \text{Joules} \][/tex]

Thus, the potential energy of the bicycle is 735 Joules. The correct answer choice is not listed in the options, but based on calculation, the potential energy is 735 J.