A 3.0-m-long steel chain is stretched out along the top level of a horizontal sc

Question

A 3.0-m-long steel chain is stretched out along the top level of a horizontal scaffold at a construction site, in such a way that 2.0 m of the chain remains on the top level and 1.0 m hangs vertically, the figure . At this point, the force on the hanging segment is sufficient to pull the entire chain over the edge. Once the chain is moving, the kinetic friction is so small that it can be neglected.
How much work is performed on the chain by the force of gravity as the chain falls from the point where 2.0 m remains on the scaffold to the point where the entire chain has left the scaffold? (Assume that the chain has a linear weight density of 17 N/m.)

I have absolutely no idea how to start this.

Explanation / Answer

Taking the table as reference for calculating potential energy work done by the gravity = initial potential energy - final potential energy initial potential energy = -17*(1)*(1/2) here height of center of mass is taken and it is 1/2 final potential energy = -17*3*(3/2) so work done by gravity = -17/2 + (17*9)/2 = 68J

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