Call Now to Set Up Tutoring:

(888) 888-0446

College Physics : Gravitational Potential Energy

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for College Physics

Create An Account

All College Physics Resources

66 Practice Tests Question of the Day Flashcards Learn by Concept

Example Questions

Example Question #21 : College Physics

A 2kg $\displaystyle 2kg$ bouncy ball is dropped from 10 m $\displaystyle 10 m$. When it bounces back up is reaches a height of $\displaystyle 8m$. How much energy was loss?

$g=10\frac{m}{s^2}$ $\displaystyle g=10\frac{m}{s^2}$

Possible Answers:

200N $\displaystyle 200N$

20J $\displaystyle 20J$

100J $\displaystyle 100J$

200J $\displaystyle 200J$

40J $\displaystyle 40J$

Correct answer:

40J $\displaystyle 40J$

Explanation:

The formula for gravitational potential energy is:

GPE=mgh $\displaystyle GPE=mgh$

To find the potential energy lost, we need to find the potential energy of the ball at two heights, then find the difference.

$GPE_{before} = 2kg (10\frac{m}{s^2})(10m)$ $\displaystyle GPE_{before} = 2kg (10\frac{m}{s^2})(10m)$

$GPE_{before} = 200J$ $\displaystyle GPE_{before} = 200J$

$GPE_{after} = 2kg (10\frac{m}{s^2})(8m)$ $\displaystyle GPE_{after} = 2kg (10\frac{m}{s^2})(8m)$

$GPE_{after} = 160J$ $\displaystyle GPE_{after} = 160J$

$GPE_{before} - GPE_{after} = GPE \ lost$ $\displaystyle GPE_{before} - GPE_{after} = GPE \ lost$

$\displaystyle 200J- 160J = 40J$

Note that the energy was not actually lost; rather, it was converted to kinetic energy.

Report an Error

Example Question #22 : College Physics

A baseball weighing 2kg $\displaystyle 2kg$ is dropped from a second story window which is 20m $\displaystyle 20m$ high. What is the gravitational potential energy?

$g=10\frac{m}{s^2}$ $\displaystyle g=10\frac{m}{s^2}$

Possible Answers:

40N $\displaystyle 40N$

40J $\displaystyle 40J$

400N $\displaystyle 400N$

400J $\displaystyle 400J$

100J $\displaystyle 100J$

Correct answer:

400J $\displaystyle 400J$

Explanation:

Gravitational potential energy is given by the equation:

$\displaystyle GPE= mgh$

We are given all the information needed to solve for the potential energy.

$\displaystyle mass=2kg$

$g = 10\frac{m}{s^2}$ $\displaystyle g = 10\frac{m}{s^2}$

$\displaystyle Height=20m$

Plug in known values and solve.

$GPE= 2kg(10\frac{m}{s^2})(20m)$ $\displaystyle GPE= 2kg(10\frac{m}{s^2})(20m)$

$GPE = 400\frac{kg\cdot m^2}{s^2}$ $\displaystyle GPE = 400\frac{kg\cdot m^2}{s^2}$

$\displaystyle GPE = 400J$

Recall that the units for energy are Joules. Newtons is the unit for force.

Report an Error

Example Question #23 : College Physics

A 15kg $\displaystyle 15kg$ bowling ball is released from 10m $\displaystyle 10m$ in the air. What is it's gravitation potential energy upon release?

$g=10\frac{m}{s^2}$ $\displaystyle g=10\frac{m}{s^2}$

Possible Answers:

100J $\displaystyle 100J$

1000J $\displaystyle 1000J$

500J $\displaystyle 500J$

1500J $\displaystyle 1500J$

1200J $\displaystyle 1200J$

Correct answer:

1500J $\displaystyle 1500J$

Explanation:

The equation for gravitational potential energy is:

$\displaystyle GPE = mgh$

We are given all the information needed to answer the question.

$\displaystyle mass = 15kg$

$gravity=10\frac{m}{s^2}$ $\displaystyle gravity=10\frac{m}{s^2}$

$\displaystyle height = 10 m$

Plug in known values and solve.

$GPE = 15kg (10\frac{m}{s^2})(10m)$ $\displaystyle GPE = 15kg (10\frac{m}{s^2})(10m)$

$\displaystyle GPE = 1500J$

Report an Error

View Tutors

Kevin
Certified Tutor

St. Johns University, Bachelors, Math/Coaching.

View Tutors

Jody
Certified Tutor

University of Kansas, Bachelor of Science, Mathematics Teacher Education. Maryville University of Saint Louis, Master of Scie...

View Tutors

Charles
Certified Tutor

Auburn University, Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering. Naval Postgraduate School, Master of Science, Systems Enginee...

All College Physics Resources

66 Practice Tests Question of the Day Flashcards Learn by Concept

Popular Subjects

Spanish Tutors in Philadelphia, Statistics Tutors in Boston, Math Tutors in Dallas Fort Worth, ACT Tutors in New York City, Reading Tutors in Atlanta, SAT Tutors in Chicago, ISEE Tutors in San Francisco-Bay Area, GMAT Tutors in Atlanta, Biology Tutors in Philadelphia, Calculus Tutors in Los Angeles

Popular Courses & Classes

ISEE Courses & Classes in Washington DC, ACT Courses & Classes in San Francisco-Bay Area, ISEE Courses & Classes in San Francisco-Bay Area, ACT Courses & Classes in Phoenix, ACT Courses & Classes in New York City, GMAT Courses & Classes in Atlanta, MCAT Courses & Classes in Washington DC, GMAT Courses & Classes in Los Angeles, ACT Courses & Classes in Miami, LSAT Courses & Classes in Philadelphia

Popular Test Prep

GMAT Test Prep in Chicago, GMAT Test Prep in Boston, GMAT Test Prep in New York City, ISEE Test Prep in Phoenix, LSAT Test Prep in Houston, GMAT Test Prep in Los Angeles, MCAT Test Prep in Chicago, ISEE Test Prep in Houston, GRE Test Prep in Atlanta, MCAT Test Prep in Denver

DMCA Complaint

If you believe that content available by means of the Website (as defined in our Terms of Service) infringes one or more of your copyrights, please notify us by providing a written notice (“Infringement Notice”) containing the information described below to the designated agent listed below. If Varsity Tutors takes action in response to an Infringement Notice, it will make a good faith attempt to contact the party that made such content available by means of the most recent email address, if any, provided by such party to Varsity Tutors.

Your Infringement Notice may be forwarded to the party that made the content available or to third parties such as ChillingEffects.org.

Please be advised that you will be liable for damages (including costs and attorneys’ fees) if you materially misrepresent that a product or activity is infringing your copyrights. Thus, if you are not sure content located on or linked-to by the Website infringes your copyright, you should consider first contacting an attorney.

Please follow these steps to file a notice:

You must include the following:

A physical or electronic signature of the copyright owner or a person authorized to act on their behalf; An identification of the copyright claimed to have been infringed; A description of the nature and exact location of the content that you claim to infringe your copyright, in \ sufficient detail to permit Varsity Tutors to find and positively identify that content; for example we require a link to the specific question (not just the name of the question) that contains the content and a description of which specific portion of the question – an image, a link, the text, etc – your complaint refers to; Your name, address, telephone number and email address; and A statement by you: (a) that you believe in good faith that the use of the content that you claim to infringe your copyright is not authorized by law, or by the copyright owner or such owner’s agent; (b) that all of the information contained in your Infringement Notice is accurate, and (c) under penalty of perjury, that you are either the copyright owner or a person authorized to act on their behalf.

Send your complaint to our designated agent at:

Charles Cohn Varsity Tutors LLC
101 S. Hanley Rd, Suite 300
St. Louis, MO 63105

Or fill out the form below:

Do not fill in this field

Contact Information

* Full legal name

Company name

* Phone number

* Email address

Address

* Address1

Address2

* City

* State

* Zipcode

* Country

Complaint Details

* URL of copyrighted work (where your original material is located)

* Please describe the copyrighted work so that it may be easily identified

I am the owner, or an agent authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.

I have a good faith belief that the use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.

This notification is accurate.

I acknowledge that there may be adverse legal consequences for making false or bad faith allegations of copyright infringement by using this process.

* Signature (your digital signature is legally binding)

HIGH SCHOOL

GRADUATE SCHOOL

K-8

Search 50+ Tests

math tutoring

science tutoring

foreign languages

elementary tutoring

other

Search 350+ Subjects

College Physics : Gravitational Potential Energy

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for College Physics

All College Physics Resources

Example Questions

Example Question #21 : College Physics

Example Question #22 : College Physics

Example Question #23 : College Physics

All College Physics Resources

Report an issue with this question

DMCA Complaint

Contact Information

Address

Complaint Details

Email address:
Your name:
Feedback: