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A 0.19-kg stone is held 1.5 m above the top edge of a water well and then droppe

ID: 1281760 • Letter: A

Question

A 0.19-kg stone is held 1.5 m above the top edge of a water well and then dropped into it. The well has a depth of 5.2 m. (a) Taking y = 0 at the top edge of the well, what is the gravitational potential energy of the stone-Earth system before the stone is released? J (b) Taking y = 0 at the top edge of the well, what is the gravitational potential energy of the stone Earth system when it reaches the bottom of the well? J (c) What is the change in gravitational potential energy of the system from release to reaching the bottom of the well? J

Explanation / Answer

a) PE = 0.19 x 9.81 x 1.5 = 2.793 Joules
b) PE = 0.19 x 9.81 x 5.2 = 9.68 Joules
c) Total change in PE = 0.23 x 9.81 x 6.7 = 12.4754 Joules