A 120-MT concrete beam is lifted from the floor by two tandem heavy lift cranes up to a
target height of 7.5 meters.
Calculate the potential energy of the beam when it is halfway the target height
To calculate the potential energy halfway to the target height, we need to find the height halfway up the target height.
Halfway to the target height: (7.5 meters) / 2 = 3.75 meters
The potential energy of an object is given by the equation PE = mgh, where m is the mass, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height.
Given:
Mass (m) = 120 MT = 120,000 kg
Acceleration due to gravity (g) = 9.8 m/s^2
Height (h) = 3.75 meters
PE = mgh
PE = (120,000 kg)(9.8 m/s^2)(3.75 meters)
PE = 4,410,000 Joules