The discussion revolves around the calculation of the rate of loss of potential energy in a physics problem, specifically involving gravitational potential energy. The original poster presents their calculations and compares them to an answer key.
The discussion is active, with participants providing feedback on the calculations and questioning the accuracy of the answer key. There is no explicit consensus, but multiple interpretations regarding the answer key's correctness are being explored.
Participants mention the importance of significant figures in the calculations and consider whether the answer key may have a typographical error regarding the value of 80 W.
If one were adhering to the rules of significant figures, your 175 W (175.103048... on my calculator) would round up to 180 W.songoku said:
Maybe it is a typo, the answer is written 80 W.jbriggs444 said: