Consider a system of an 85.0 kg man, his 21.0-kg dog, and the earth. The gravitational potential energy of the system increases by 2.40 103 J when the man climbs a spiral staircase from the first to the second floor of an apartment building. If his dog climbs a normal staircase from the same first floor to the second floor, by how much does the potential energy of the system increase (in J) ?

Question

Physics

Bowers

14 March, 23:30

Consider a system of an 85.0 kg man, his 21.0-kg dog, and the earth. The gravitational potential energy of the system increases by 2.40 103 J when the man climbs a spiral staircase from the first to the second floor of an apartment building. If his dog climbs a normal staircase from the same first floor to the second floor, by how much does the potential energy of the system increase (in J) ?

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Skyler · Answer 1

593 J

Explanation:

The change in the potential energy (PE) can be calculated using the following expression.

PE = m * g * h

where,

m: mass

g: acceleration due to the gravity

h: height (vertical distance from the first floor to the second floor)

For the 85.0-kg man,

PE = m * g * h

2.40 * 10³ J = 85.0 kg * 9.81 m/s² * h

h = 2.88 m

For the 21.0-kg dog,

PE = m * g * h

PE = 21.0 kg * 9.81 m/s² * 2.88 m = 593 J