ListenA person weighing 6.0 * 102 newtons rides an elevator upward at an average speed of 3.0 meters per second for 5.0 seconds. How much does this person's gravitational potential energy increase as a result of this ride? a) 3.6 * 102 J b) 1.8 * 103 J c) 3.0 * 103 J d) 9.0 * 103 J.

(d) 9 * 10^{3] J

Explanation:

from the question we are given the following:

weight of the man = 6.0 * 10 ^ {2} N

average speed (v) = 3 m/s

time (t) = 3 s

potential energy (U) = ?

We can calculate the increase in potential energy of the man by applying the formula below

increase in potential energy = P₂ - P₁

where

P₁ is the initial potential energy P₂ is the final potential energy Potential energy = mass x acceleration due to gravity x height

From physic we know that weight = mass x acceleration due to gravity

We should take note that the distance in this case is also our height, and we can get it from the formula distance = velocity x time Distance = 3 x 5 = 15 meters Initial potential energy P₁ is zero because the person was initially in motion and potential energy is the energy at rest.

therefore

potential energy = 6.0 * 10 ^ {2} * 15 = 9 * 10^{3] J