Question

A 1000 kg car traveling with a speed of 29 m/s drives horizontally off of a 100 m cliff. The initial potential energy is _____.

Use g=9.8 m/s2

(1 point)
Responses

980,000 J
980,000 J

420,500 J
420,500 J

98,000 Nm
98,000 Nm

14,500 J

Answer 1

To calculate the initial potential energy (PE) of the car when it is at the top of the cliff, you can use the formula:

\[ PE = m \cdot g \cdot h \]

where:
- \( m \) is the mass of the car (1000 kg),
- \( g \) is the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s²),
- \( h \) is the height of the cliff (100 m).

Substituting in the values:

\[ PE = 1000\, \text{kg} \cdot 9.8\, \text{m/s}^2 \cdot 100\, \text{m} \]

\[ PE = 1000 \cdot 9.8 \cdot 100 \]

\[ PE = 980,000 \, \text{J} \]

Thus, the initial potential energy is **980,000 J**.