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 gravitational potential energy of the bicycle, we use the formula

[tex]$$
PE = mgh,
$$[/tex]

where:
- [tex]$m$[/tex] is the mass in kilograms,
- [tex]$g$[/tex] is the acceleration due to gravity in meters per second squared,
- [tex]$h$[/tex] is the height in meters.

Given:
- [tex]$m = 25\,\text{kg}$[/tex],
- [tex]$g = 9.8\,\text{m/s}^2$[/tex],
- [tex]$h = 3\,\text{m}$[/tex],

we substitute these values into the formula:

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

First, calculate the product of [tex]$25$[/tex] and [tex]$9.8$[/tex]:

[tex]$$
25 \times 9.8 = 245.
$$[/tex]

Then, multiply by [tex]$3$[/tex]:

[tex]$$
245 \times 3 = 735.
$$[/tex]

Therefore, the potential energy of the bicycle is

[tex]$$
PE = 735 \text{ Joules}.
$$[/tex]