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Gravitational Potential Energy near the Ground- Need help filling this table in

ID: 1479757 • Letter: G

Question

Gravitational Potential Energy near the Ground- Need help filling this table in

A motorcycle stunt person attempts to jump across a wide chasm as represented below. Let coordinate system "A" have its origin at the motorcyclists initial position with the positive vertical direction measured upwards. Let coordinate system "B" have its origin at the motorcyclists final position with the positive vertical direction measured upward. Let coordinate system "C" have the origin at the initial position of the motorcyclist with its positive direction measured downward. Complete the following table for the gravitational potential energy of the motorcyclist. Are the deltaU_g's same?

Explanation / Answer

At point A, we have

initial gravitational potential energy, Ug,i = m g h

final gravitational potential energy, Ug,f = 0

Total, Ug = m g h

At point B, we have

Ug,i = 0   and   Ug,f = m g h

then, total Ug = m g h

At point C, we have

Ug,i = - m g h and   Ug,f = 0

then, total Ug = - m g h

The total gravitational potential enery of the motorcyclists are not the same.