Question

While riding up a chair lift, a 54.8 kg skier gains 4.22 x 10 to the power of 5 of gravitational potential energy. The top of the ski lift is what vertical distance above the base

Answer 1

gravitational potential energy = mgh.

where, m is the mass of the object.

g is acceleration due to gravity.

and h is the vertical distance above the ground or base.

so, according to the question mass of skier is 54.8 kg.

g= 9.8 m/s²

and gravitational potential energy = 4.22 × (10)^5 joules

so, h = (P.E)/(m×g) ( where P.E stands for potential energy)

h = (4.22 × (10)^5)/(54.8 × 9.8) m

h= (4.22 × (10)^5)/(537.04) m

h= 7.85 × 10² m

so top of the ski lift is 7.85 × 10² m above the base.