Gravitational potential energy

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the change in gravitational potential energy for a skier using the length of a lift and the angle it makes with the horizontal. The subject area is gravitational potential energy and its relation to height and mass.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the components of the lift's incline, questioning how to find the vertical height from the given hypotenuse and angle. There are attempts to clarify terms such as dU (change in gravitational potential energy) and dH (change in height).

Discussion Status

Participants are exploring different interpretations of the problem, with some providing insights into the relationship between height and potential energy. There is a focus on understanding the definitions and components involved, but no consensus has been reached on the approach to take.

Contextual Notes

There is an emphasis on the importance of the change in height for calculating gravitational potential energy, and some participants note that the trajectory of the skier does not affect the potential energy calculation.

shawonna23
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A 70.0 kg skier rides a 2860 m long lift to the top of a mountain. The lift makes an angle of 14.8° with the horizontal. What is the change in the skier's gravitational potential energy?

What equation would I use to solve this problem?
 
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shawonna23 said:
A 70.0 kg skier rides a 2860 m long lift to the top of a mountain. The lift makes an angle of 14.8° with the horizontal. What is the change in the skier's gravitational potential energy?

What equation would I use to solve this problem?

First of all since the lift is an inclined plane, there is a horizontal and vertical component when 2860 is the hypothenuse

find the vertical component

vertical component is now the dH is dU = MG dH
 
Last edited:
i don't understand what you are saying. What is dU and dH?
 
shawonna23 said:
i don't understand what you are saying. What is dU and dH?

dU = the change in gravitational potential energy

dH = the change in height

Because

dU = mgh2 = mgh1 = mg (h2 - h1) = mg dH
 
Remember the trajectory doesn't matter for the gravity potential energy, only the change of height.
 
You know the mass, the unknown is the height.

If the hypotenuse of a triangle is 2860 meters long and the angle is 14.8 degrees what is h?

Then mass x height = potential energy.

:)

Kirk
 

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