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 can use the formula for gravitational potential energy:

[tex]\[ PE = mgh \][/tex]

where:
- [tex]\( PE \)[/tex] is the potential energy,
- [tex]\( m \)[/tex] is the mass in kilograms,
- [tex]\( g \)[/tex] is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s[tex]\(^2\)[/tex]),
- [tex]\( h \)[/tex] is the height in meters.

Here's how to calculate it step-by-step:

1. Identify the mass ([tex]\( m \)[/tex]): The mass of the bicycle is given as 25 kg.

2. Identify the gravitational acceleration ([tex]\( g \)[/tex]): Use the standard acceleration due to gravity, which is approximately 9.8 m/s[tex]\(^2\)[/tex].

3. Identify the height ([tex]\( h \)[/tex]): The height of the hill is given as 3 meters.

4. Substitute these values into the formula:
[tex]\[
PE = 25 \, \text{kg} \times 9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2 \times 3 \, \text{m}
\][/tex]

5. Calculate the potential energy:
[tex]\[
PE = 735 \, \text{Joules}
\][/tex]

So, the potential energy of the bicycle at the top of the hill is 735 Joules.