Potential Energy of 6kg Box Sliding Down 17m Incline

U = mgy, where m is the mass of the box, g is the acceleration of gravity, and y is the height of the box relative to the ground. In summary, the potential energy of a 6 kg box sliding down a frictionless incline of angle 34 degrees, starting from rest at a height of 17 m above the ground, can be calculated using the formula U = mgy, where m is the mass of the box, g is the acceleration of gravity, and y is the height relative to the ground. The angle of the incline does not affect the potential energy
  • #1
the_d
127
0
A 6 kg box slides down a long, frictionless
incline of angle 34 degrees. It starts from rest at time
t = 0 at the top of the incline at a height 17 m
above the ground.
The acceleration of gravity is 9.81 m/s^2 :
What is the original potential energy of
the box relative to the ground?

i just don't know what to do with the angle. the formula is U = mgy, but where does the angle come into play?
 
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  • #2
I've seen many questions where unnecessary information is given. It's just another way questions can test your knowledge.
 
  • #3
asrodan said:
I've seen many questions where unnecessary information is given. It's just another way questions can test your knowledge.


u were right
 

1. What is potential energy?

Potential energy is the stored energy an object has due to its position or configuration. It is often referred to as "energy of position" and is dependent on the object's mass, acceleration due to gravity, and its height above a reference point.

2. How is potential energy calculated?

The potential energy of an object can be calculated using the formula PE = mgh, where m is the mass of the object in kilograms, g is the acceleration due to gravity in meters per second squared, and h is the height of the object in meters above a reference point.

3. What is the potential energy of a 6kg box sliding down a 17m incline?

To calculate the potential energy of the box, we need to know the value of g, which is approximately 9.8 m/s². Using the formula PE = mgh, we can plug in the values for mass (6kg), height (17m), and acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s²) to get a potential energy of approximately 999.6 joules.

4. Is potential energy the same as kinetic energy?

No, potential energy and kinetic energy are different forms of energy. Potential energy is the energy of position, while kinetic energy is the energy an object possesses due to its motion. In the case of the 6kg box sliding down the incline, it would have potential energy at the top of the incline, but as it slides down, that potential energy is converted into kinetic energy.

5. How does the mass of an object affect its potential energy?

The mass of an object directly affects its potential energy, as seen in the formula PE = mgh. The greater the mass of an object, the more potential energy it will have. This means that a heavier object will require more energy to lift it to a certain height compared to a lighter object. In the case of the 6kg box sliding down the incline, if we were to double its mass to 12kg, its potential energy would also double.

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