Question

What is the gravitational potential energy of the 6 kg cart as it sits the top of the incline?

Answer 1

Without the height of the incline, it is not possible to determine the numerical value of the gravitational potential energy for the 6 kg cart. The formula for potential energy is PE = mgh, where m is mass in kilograms, g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s²), and h is the height in meters.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine the gravitational potential energy (PE) of the 6 kg cart at the top of an incline, we utilize the formula PE = mgh, where m represents the mass of the cart, g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s² on Earth), and h is the height of the incline. However, without the height given in the question, we cannot calculate a numerical answer. If the height were provided, you would simply plug the values into the formula to get the potential energy in joules (J). For instance, if the cart was at the top of a 5-meter high incline, the calculation would be PE = 6 kg * 9.8 m/s² * 5 m = 294 J, meaning the cart has 294 joules of potential energy.

Answer 2

There are some missing details in the question. Found them on internet:
- the mass of the cart is m=40 kg
- The height of the incline is h=300 m (see attached figure)

Solution:
the gravitational potential energy of an object is given by

`U=mgh`
where
m is the mass of the object
g is the gravitational acceleration
h is the height of the object above the reference point (usually taken as the ground)

By applying this formula, we find the potential energy of the cart at the top of the incline:

`U=mgh=(40 kg)(9.81 m/s^2)(300 m)=1.18 \cdot 10^5 J`