At what height is an object that has a mass of 500 N, if its gravitational potential energy is 9800 Joules?

2 Answers
Mar 4, 2018

Let,the object of mass #m# is at a height #h# above the ground,so its potential energy is #mgh#

given, #mgh =9800#

so, #h=9800/500=19.6 m#

Mar 4, 2018

It is on a height of #19.6 \ "m"#.

Explanation:

Gravitational potential energy is expressed through the equation

#G.P.E.=mgh# or #G.P.E.=Wh#

where #W# is the weight of the object in newtons, and #h# is the height of the object in meters.

I'm assuming that you are talking about an object having a weight of #500 \ "N"#, and not mass, since mass is measured in kilograms.

So, the object is on a height of

#h=(G.P.E.)/W#

#=(9800 \ "J")/(500 \ "N")#

#=19.6 \ "m"#