eczeno said:hello,
you have not accounted for the angle. the ski lift does not go straight up, it goes up a slope.
eczeno said:that is correct, but you have the wrong value for delta y. the lift travels a total distance of 2.56 km, but that is not the change in altitude, that is how long the cables are.
Gravitational potential energy is the energy stored in an object due to its position in a gravitational field. It is the potential of an object to do work as a result of its vertical position or height.
The calculation for gravitational potential energy is mass multiplied by the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s2) multiplied by the vertical height of the object.
The factors that affect gravitational potential energy include the mass of the object, the acceleration due to gravity, and the vertical height of the object.
Gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy are both forms of mechanical energy. As an object falls, its gravitational potential energy decreases while its kinetic energy increases. This relationship allows for the conversion of potential energy into kinetic energy and vice versa.
Gravitational potential energy is used in various real-life applications, such as hydroelectric power plants where the potential energy of water stored in a dam is converted into kinetic energy to generate electricity. It is also used in roller coasters, where the potential energy of the cars at the top of a hill is converted into kinetic energy as they go down the track.