A worker lifts a 20.0-kg bucket of concrete from the ground

[Timmy1221]

Homework Statement

1. A worker lifts a 20.0-kg bucket of concrete from the ground up to the top of a 20.0-m-tall building. The bucket is initially at rest, but is traveling at 4.0 m/s when it reaches the top of the building. What is the minimum amount of work that the worker did in lifting the bucket?
   

Homework Equations

F= ma
W= Fd
F=KE at the tope of the building

The Attempt at a Solution

Since bucket has KE at the top of the building, would I be finding the KE using KE=(1/2)mv^2 equation and then plugging that final number into my W=Fd equation where d would be 20.0 m?

Help please!

 

[Bystander]

(snip) ... and then plugging that final number into my W=Fd equation where d would be 20.0 m?

How were you "plugging it in?"

 

[Timmy1221]

How were you "plugging it in?"

I solved for F in my equation of W=Fd by using the kinetic energy formula. I did (1/2)*(20)*(4^2) and got 160J. I plugged that into the W=Fd as my F. So then I solved doing F=160J and d=20m but I got 3200 N*m instead and that's not the right answer. The answer is 4.08kN*m apparently

 

[Bystander]

How much work do you do getting the bucket to the top of the building?

 

[Timmy1221]

How much work do you do getting the bucket to the top of the building?

Would that be the 3200?

 

[Timmy1221]

How much work do you do getting the bucket to the top of the building?

I'm confused with that question actually

 

[Bystander]

Let's start at the beginning. What is the minimum force you must apply to lift the bucket?

 

[SteamKing]

You are overlooking the change in potential energy of the bucket between the ground and the top of the building.

You also don't know how the bucket acquired the velocity of 4 m/s (whether it was constant the whole time the bucket was rising or if it was in the last second before the bucket reached the top of the building. The best you can do is calculate the KE of the bucket and add it to the change in potential energy.

 

[Timmy1221]

You are overlooking the change in potential energy of the bucket between the ground and the top of the building.

You also don't know how the bucket acquired the velocity of 4 m/s (whether it was constant the whole time the bucket was rising or if it was in the last second before the bucket reached the top of the building. The best you can do is calculate the KE of the bucket and add it to the change in potential energy.

So is this what you're saying I should do?

Find the PE=mgh=(20)(9.8)(20)=784 J
And find the KE=(1/2)(20kg)(4.0^2)=3200 J
And then add PE+KE so that my final answer is 784+3200=3894?
Because the final answer is supposed to be 4.08kN*m

 

[CaptCoonoor]

Excuse me, KE at top of a Building? isn't that suppose to be Potential Energy??

 

[Timmy1221]

Excuse me, KE at top of a Building? isn't that suppose to be Potential Energy??

So what would I do to get my final answer?

Would I solve for my PE with the given numbers from the problem?

I'm feel like I'm getting nowhere

 

[Bystander]

F=KE at the tope of the building

Find the PE=mgh=(20)(9.8)(20)=784 J
And find the KE=(1/2)(20kg)(4.0^2)=3200 J
And then add PE+KE so that my final answer is 784+3200=3894?
Because the final answer is supposed to be 4.08kN*m

You have the method. Now, you need to double check your arithmetic. Once you've done that, you can point at the source of the 4.08 kNm final answer and laugh loudly.

 

[Timmy1221]

You have the method. Now, you need to double check your arithmetic. Once you've done that, you can point at the source of the 4.08 kNm final answer and laugh loudly.

I can truly be such an idiot sometimes. Thanks I think I need some sleep

 

[SteamKing]

So is this what you're saying I should do?

Find the PE=mgh=(20)(9.8)(20)=784 J
And find the KE=(1/2)(20kg)(4.0^2)=3200 J
And then add PE+KE so that my final answer is 784+3200=3894?
Because the final answer is supposed to be 4.08kN*m

You might want to check your arithmetic on the calculation of PE again. IDK how you can multiply 400 * 20 and come out with 784.
Ditto the calculation of the KE. IDK how you get 3200 J for this either.

And what do you think a Joule is equal to? You should also check its definition as well.