Physics

Problem

Classify the potential energy present in each of the following situations and compute its value wherever sufficient data are provided. 1. A stone of mass

1.5\,\text{kg}

lies on a cliff

20\,\text{m}

above a river. 2. A rubber band behaves like a spring with constant

30\,\text{N\,m}^{-1}

and is stretched by

0.05\,\text{m}

. 3. A metal sphere of mass

0.8\,\text{kg}

is kept on a shelf

1.0\,\text{m}

above the ground. 4. A toy spring (constant

100\,\text{N\,m}^{-1}

) is compressed by

0.04\,\text{m}

. a. (i) For each situation, specify whether the stored energy is gravitational or elastic. b. (ii) Write the symbolic expression for the potential energy appropriate to each case. c. (iii) Using the given data, calculate the potential energy for each situation, taking

g = 9.8\,\text{m\,s}^{-2}

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