Gravitational Potential Energy of a tower

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating gravitational potential energy in the context of a tower, specifically focusing on a scenario where the height is known but the mass is not provided. The example involves a man climbing to the fifth floor of an office tower with floors spaced 3.8 meters apart.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore how to approach the problem without a given mass, with some suggesting that the mass may cancel out when considering ratios of potential energy at different heights.

Discussion Status

There is an ongoing exploration of the problem, with some participants questioning the interpretation of the question and others attempting to clarify the use of the gravitational potential energy formula. A few calculations have been mentioned, but there is no consensus on the correct approach or answer.

Contextual Notes

Participants note discrepancies in provided answers from a book, indicating potential confusion or errors in the source material. The discussion highlights the challenge of solving the problem with incomplete information regarding mass.

paaraskohli
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E=mgh

how to find the gravitational potential energy if the mass is not given
only height is given

E.G
A man decides to cimb an office tower. If the floors are 3.8 m apart, how much gravitational potential energy would the man have relative to the ground floor if he made it to 5th floor??
 
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how to find the gravitational potential energy if the mass is not given
only height is given

E.G
A man decides to cimb an office tower. If the floors are 3.8 m apart, how much gravitational potential energy would the man have relative to the ground floor if he made it to 5th floor??
 
You only need to find the ratio of the PE on the ground and five floors up. The mass cancels out.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
dude i need da answer too :(
In da book the answer is wrong
 
What answer is that ?

Use the formula you give in your first title, and calculate E for d and d+(extra height).
 
Last edited:
41 Joule
 
That's not a ratio, so my reading of the question is wrong. Sorry, can't help you.
 

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