Calculate Mechanical Energy & Heights of a Falling Stone - Physics Homework Help

In summary: Glad I could help. In summary, the conversation discusses a homework problem involving a stone thrown from a bridge and its gravitational and kinetic energy, maximum height, speed upon hitting the ground, and total mechanical energy. The equations used are Emech= Eg+ Ek, Ek= 1/2mv^2, and Eg= mgh. The solution involves calculating the stone's energy and height at different points in its trajectory. The final answer for the total mechanical energy is 97.4 J.
  • #1
Roro312
12
0

Homework Statement



A bridge is 25 m above a road below. If a .20kg stone is thrown upward from the bridge at 22.0m/s, calculate:

a) the gravitational energy of the stone as it is thrown upwar
b) the kinetic energy of the stone as it is thrown up
c) the maximum height (above the ground) achieved by the stone
d) the speed of the stone as it hits the road
e) the total mechanical energy of the stone as it falls pat the bridge on the way down


Homework Equations



Emech= Eg+ Ek

Ek= 1/2mv^2

Eg= mgh

The Attempt at a Solution



a) Eg= (.20)(9.8)(25)
= 49J

b) Ek= (.2)(9.8)(1.5)
=1.47J


the rest i don't get ...im soo confused and i have a test tomorrow
please help me
 
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  • #2
Roro312 said:

Homework Statement



A bridge is 25 m above a road below. If a .20kg stone is thrown upward from the bridge at 22.0m/s, calculate:

a) the gravitational energy of the stone as it is thrown upwar
b) the kinetic energy of the stone as it is thrown up
c) the maximum height (above the ground) achieved by the stone
d) the speed of the stone as it hits the road
e) the total mechanical energy of the stone as it falls pat the bridge on the way down

Homework Equations



Emech= Eg+ Ek

Ek= 1/2mv^2

Eg= mgh

The Attempt at a Solution



a) Eg= (.20)(9.8)(25)
= 49J

b) Ek= (.2)(9.8)(1.5)
=1.47Jthe rest i don't get ...im soo confused and i have a test tomorrow
please help me

So set the zero point of potential energy on the ground. Then:

Conservation of energy [tex] E_i = E_f [/tex]

(a) [tex] U =mgh [/tex]

Looks right.

(b) [tex] KE = \frac{1}{2}mv^2 [/tex]

Where did you get 1.5?

(c) At the maximum height v = 0, so all of the initial kinetic energy was converted into potential energy.

(d) At the ground h = 0 so all of the energy has been converted into kinetic energy.

(e) Mechanical energy is conserved.
 
  • #3
ok so for b) i got 2371.6J

but for c) how do we change initial energy to potentional energy..


Thanks again for ur response... i greatly appreciate it:D
 
  • #4
Roro312 said:
ok so for b) i got 2371.6J

but for c) how do we change initial energy to potentional energy..


Thanks again for ur response... i greatly appreciate it:D

(b) Try the calculation again.

(c) So initially it is going 22 m/s, this gives it kinetic energy (the amount which is the answer to b). It reaches its maximum height when all of this kinetic energy is converted into potential energy (set equal). This will only give you the height above the bridge though so do not forget to add the height of the bridge as well.
 
  • #5
(b) 48.4J

(c) 1/2 v2 = gh
½ (22.0)2 = 9.8h
½ (484) = 9.8h
242 = 9.8h
9.8 9.8

24.69 = h

Therefore the max height equals 25 m + the height of the bridge equals 50 m


is that right?
 
  • #6
Roro312 said:
(b) 48.4J

(c) 1/2 v2 = gh
½ (22.0)2 = 9.8h
½ (484) = 9.8h
242 = 9.8h
9.8 9.8

24.69 = h

Therefore the max height equals 25 m + the height of the bridge equals 50 m


is that right?

I got the same for both.
 
  • #7
d) i got 22m/s

e)Mmech=(.2)(9.8)(25)+1/2(.2)(22)^2
=97.4 J


o my gosh.. i know i bugged you soo much but seriously without your help i wouldn't have got it.. THANKS ALOT:)


just the last two... did you get the same?
 
  • #8
Roro312 said:
d) i got 22m/s

e)Mmech=(.2)(9.8)(25)+1/2(.2)(22)^2
=97.4 J


o my gosh.. i know i bugged you soo much but seriously without your help i wouldn't have got it.. THANKS ALOT:)


just the last two... did you get the same?

(e) Yes

(d) No what I got. All the energy is now kinetic.
 
  • #9
Thanks a lot for your help Zach... I appreciate it:smile:
 
  • #10
No prob.
 

Related to Calculate Mechanical Energy & Heights of a Falling Stone - Physics Homework Help

1. What is mechanical energy?

Mechanical energy is the sum of kinetic and potential energy in an object. Kinetic energy is the energy an object possesses due to its motion, while potential energy is the energy an object possesses due to its position or shape.

2. How do you calculate mechanical energy?

Mechanical energy can be calculated by adding the kinetic energy and potential energy of an object. The formula for mechanical energy is: ME = KE + PE

3. What is the equation for calculating potential energy?

The equation for calculating potential energy is PE = mgh, where m is the mass of the object, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height of the object.

4. How do you determine the height of a falling object using mechanical energy?

To determine the height of a falling object using mechanical energy, you can rearrange the formula for potential energy to solve for h. This would give you the equation h = PE/mg, where PE is the potential energy of the object, m is the mass, and g is the acceleration due to gravity.

5. Can mechanical energy be converted into other forms of energy?

Yes, mechanical energy can be converted into other forms of energy such as heat, sound, or electrical energy. This is known as the Law of Conservation of Energy, which states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, but can be converted from one form to another.

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