A roller-coaster car is at the top of a hill. The car and its passengers have a combined mass of 1,088 kilograms. If the hill is 62 meters tall, how much potential energy does the car have? PE=mgh (1 point) Responses 67,456 J 67,456 J 661,068.8 J 661,068.8 J 330,534.4 J 330,534.4 J 1,159.8 J

1 answer

To find the potential energy (PE) of the roller-coaster car at the top of the hill, we can use the formula:

\[ PE = mgh \]

where:

  • \(m\) is the mass in kilograms (1,088 kg),
  • \(g\) is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately \(9.8 , \text{m/s}^2\)),
  • \(h\) is the height in meters (62 m).

Now, substituting the values into the formula:

\[ PE = 1,088 , \text{kg} \times 9.8 , \text{m/s}^2 \times 62 , \text{m} \]

Calculating step by step:

  1. Calculate \(g \times h\): \[ 9.8 , \text{m/s}^2 \times 62 , \text{m} = 607.6 , \text{m}^2/\text{s}^2 \]

  2. Now multiply by the mass \(m\): \[ PE = 1,088 , \text{kg} \times 607.6 , \text{m}^2/\text{s}^2 \] \[ PE = 661,068.8 , \text{J} \]

Thus, the potential energy of the roller-coaster car at the top of the hill is 661,068.8 J.

The correct answer from the provided options is 661,068.8 J.