Questions: Calculate the potential energy of a rock with mass 253 kg and a height of 12 m

Solution Steps

The potential energy (\(PE\)) of an object can be calculated using the formula: \[ PE = m \cdot g \cdot h \] where:

• \( m \) is the mass of the object in kilograms,
• \( g \) is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately \(9.81 \, \text{m/s}^2\) on Earth),
• \( h \) is the height in meters.

Substitute the given values into the formula:

• Mass (\( m \)) = 253 kg
• Height (\( h \)) = 12 m
• Acceleration due to gravity (\( g \)) = \(9.81 \, \text{m/s}^2\)

\[ PE = 253 \cdot 9.81 \cdot 12 \]

Calculate the potential energy by performing the multiplication: \[ PE = 253 \cdot 9.81 \cdot 12 = 29752.8 \, \text{Joules} \]

Final Answer