(b) The cabin and passengers have a total mass of 800 kg. The vertical distance between B and C is 50 m. Calculate the increase of gravitational potential energy of the cabin and passengers when they move from B to C.

To find the increase in gravitational potential energy when the cabin and passengers move from point B to point C, we use the formula for gravitational potential energy:
Δ U = m ⋅ g ⋅ h
Where:

m is the mass of the object(s), in this case, the cabin and passengers, which is 800 kg.
g is the acceleration due to gravity, which is approximately 9.8 m/s 2 on the surface of the Earth.
h is the height or vertical distance the object moves through, which is 50 m.

Substitute the given values:
Δ U = 800 kg × 9.8 m/s 2 × 50 m
Calculate the increase in potential energy:
Δ U = 392 , 000 Joules (J)
Therefore, the increase in gravitational potential energy of the cabin and passengers when they move from B to C is 392,000 Joules.

Answered by danjohnbrain | 2025-07-22