A 2.27 kg ball is attached to a ceiling by a 1.26 m long string. The height of the room is 2.57 m. What is the gravitational potential energy of the ball relative to the ceiling?
To calculate the gravitational potential energy of the ball relative to the ceiling, we need to use the formula:
Gravitational Potential Energy (PE) = m * g * h
Where:
m is the mass of the ball (2.27 kg)
g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s²)
h is the height from the ball to the ceiling (2.57 m - 1.26 m = 1.31 m)
Now we can substitute the given values into the formula:
PE = 2.27 kg * 9.8 m/s² * 1.31 m
Calculating this, we get:
PE = 30.73726 N·m or Joules
Therefore, the gravitational potential energy of the ball relative to the ceiling is approximately 30.74 Joules.