Creative Commons License Copyright © Michael Richmond. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Gravitational Potential Energy

Joe has mass m = 60 kg. He goes to the construction site and wanders around to check for structural damage. Can you compute the change in Joe's gravitational potential energy as Joe walks between the following points? Please include the units.

  1. Joe walks 5 m from point A to point B.
  2. Joe climbs from B to C.
  3. Joe climbs up from E to F.
  4. Joe steps up by 1 m, from Y to Z, onto a bench.
  5. Joe steps back down off the bench, from Z to Y.

Are all these changes the same? Why or why not?

Let's change things a bit. What if we take the change in GPE, and divide it by the change in height? Please compute that quantity for each of the following, and include the units.

  1. Joe walks 5 m from point A to point B.
  2. Joe climbs from B to C.
  3. Joe climbs up from E to F.
  4. Joe steps up by 1 m, from Y to Z, onto a bench.
  5. Joe steps back down off the bench, from Z to Y.

Are all these changes the same? Why or why not?

Creative Commons License Copyright © Michael Richmond. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.