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 that is 3 meters high, we can use the formula for gravitational potential energy:

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

where:
- [tex]\( PE \)[/tex] is the potential energy,
- [tex]\( m \)[/tex] is the mass of the object (25 kg for the bicycle),
- [tex]\( g \)[/tex] is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately [tex]\( 9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2 \)[/tex]),
- [tex]\( h \)[/tex] is the height (3 meters in this case).

Let's calculate it step by step:

1. Identify the Mass: The mass of the bicycle is 25 kg.
2. Identify the Acceleration Due to Gravity: The standard acceleration due to gravity is [tex]\( 9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2 \)[/tex].
3. Identify the Height: The height of the hill is 3 meters.

Now, plug these values into the formula:

[tex]\[ PE = 25 \, \text{kg} \times 9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2 \times 3 \, \text{m} \][/tex]

4. Perform the Multiplication:

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

5. Calculate Step by Step:

- First, multiply [tex]\( 25 \times 9.8 = 245 \)[/tex]
- Then, multiply the result by 3: [tex]\( 245 \times 3 = 735 \)[/tex]

The potential energy of the bicycle is 735 joules.

Therefore, the correct answer is 735 J.