A body of mass 20g projected vertically upwards in vacuum returns to the point of projection after 1.2s. [g = 10ms-2]. Determine the potential energy of the...

Assessment: WAEC SSCE - Physics - 2013 (Objective) Subject: Physics

Question 1 Report

A body of mass 20g projected vertically upwards in vacuum returns to the point of projection after 1.2s. [g = 10ms-2]. Determine the potential energy of the body at the maximum height of its motion
Answer Details

To determine the potential energy of the body at the maximum height of its motion, we need to follow these steps:

  1. Calculate the speed of projection (initial velocity): From the previous solution, we determined that the speed of projection u u is 6 m/s.

  2. Determine the maximum height: Use the kinematic equation for the vertical motion to find the maximum height:

    v 2 = u 2 − 2 g h v^2 = u^2 - 2gh

    At the maximum height, the final velocity v v is 0, so:

    0 = u 2 − 2 g h    ⟹    h = u 2 2 g 0 = u^2 - 2gh \implies h = \frac{u^2}{2g}

    Substituting u = 6  m/s u = 6 \text{ m/s} and g = 10  m/s 2 g = 10 \text{ m/s}^2 :

    h = ( 6  m/s ) 2 2 × 10  m/s 2 = 36  m 2 / s 2 20  m/s 2 = 1.8  m h = \frac{(6 \text{ m/s})^2}{2 \times 10 \text{ m/s}^2} = \frac{36 \text{ m}^2/\text{s}^2}{20 \text{ m/s}^2} = 1.8 \text{ m}
  3. Calculate the potential energy (PE): The potential energy at the maximum height is given by:

    PE = m g h \text{PE} = mgh

    Convert the mass from grams to kilograms:

    m = 20  g = 0.02  kg m = 20 \text{ g} = 0.02 \text{ kg}

    Now substitute m = 0.02  kg m = 0.02 \text{ kg} , g = 10  m/s 2 g = 10 \text{ m/s}^2 , and h = 1.8  m h = 1.8 \text{ m} :

    PE = 0.02  kg × 10  m/s 2 × 1.8  m = 0.36  J \text{PE} = 0.02 \text{ kg} \times 10 \text{ m/s}^2 \times 1.8 \text{ m} = 0.36 \text{ J}

Therefore, the potential energy of the body at the maximum height of its motion is 0.36  J \boxed{0.36 \text{ J}}


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