Example Question: Energy

1. A box is placed on top of a 3m tall spring resting on the ground. The box has a weight of 10N, and
compresses the spring 1m. What is the spring constant?

Possible Answers:
a) 10Nm

b) 40Nm

c) 5Nm

d) 20Nm

e) 30Nm

Correct answer:
20Nm

Explanation:
We need two formulas for this problem: the gravitational potential energy and the spring potential energy.

PEg=mgh

PEs=12kx2

We know the weight of the box and the change in height when it is placed on the spring. These values allow us
to calculate the change in potential energy. Due to conservation of energy, the total energy must remain
constant. Initially, the box only has gravitational potential energy. In its final position, it has both gravitational
and spring potential energy.

PEi=PEf

PEg1=PEg2+PEs

mgh1=mgh2+12kx2

We know the initial height and final height of the spring. This also gives us the value of x, the displacement of
the spring.

mg(3m)=mg(2m)+12k(1m)2

We also know the weight of the box: mg=10N

(10N)(3m)=(10N)(2m)+12k(1m)2

Now we can solve for the spring constant, k.

30J=20J+12k(1m2)

10J=(12m2)k

20Nm=k
Example Question: Calculating Potential Energy
2. A 3.23kg book falls off the top of a 3.01m bookshelf. What is its potential energy right before it falls?

g=−9.8ms2

Possible Answers:
a) 16.04J

b) 98.23J

c) 95.28J

d) 31.76J

e) 123.38J

Correct answer:
95.28J

Explanation:
The formula for potential energy is PE=mgh.

Given the values for the mass, height, and gravity, we can solve using multiplication. Note that the height is
negative because the book falls in the downward direction.

PE=3.23kg∗−9.8ms2∗−3.01m

PE=95.28J
 3. A skier is at the top of a hill. At the bottom of the hill, she has a velocity of 12ms. How tall was the hill?

Possible Answers:
a) 0.735m

b) 7.22m

c) 0.832m

d) 7.35m

e) 8.12m

Correct answer:
7.35m

Explanation:
At the top of the hill the skier has purely potential energy. At the bottom, she has purely kinetic energy.

We can solve by understanding the conservation of energy. The skier's energy at the top of the hill will be equal
to her energy at the bottom of the hill.

PEtop=KEbottom

Using the equations for potential and kinetic energy, we can solve for the height of the hill.

mgh=12mv2

The masses cancel, and we can plug in our final velocity and gravitational acceleration.

gh=12v2

(−9.8ms2)h=12(12ms)2

(−9.8ms2)h=12144m2s2

(−9.8ms2)h=72m2s2

h=72m2s2−9.8ms2

h=−7.35m

This formula solves for the change in height. The negative sign implies she travelled in a downward direction.
Because the question is asking how tall the hill is, we use an absolute value.
Example Question: Calculating Potential Energy
4. An astronaut is on a new planet. She discovers that if she drops a space rock from 10m above the
ground, it has a final velocity of 3ms just before it strikes the planet surface. What is the acceleration
due to gravity on the planet?

Possible Answers:
a) −8.88ms2

b) −9.8ms2

c) −0.45ms2

d) 0.12ms2

e) −1.33ms2

Correct answer:
−0.45ms2

Explanation:
We can use conservation of energy to solve. The potential energy when the astronaut is holding the rock will be
equal to the kinetic energy just before it strikes the surface.

PE=KE

mgh=12mv2

Now, we need to solve for g, the gravity on the new planet. The masses will cancel out.

gh=12v2

Plug in the given values and solve.

g(−10m)=12(3ms)2

g(−10m)=12(9m2s2)

g(−10m)=(4.5m2s2)

g=4.5m2s2−10m

g=−0.45ms2
Example Question: Calculating Potential Energy
5. A 0.5kg ball rolls up a hill. If the ball is initially travelling with a velocity of 3.12ms, how high up the
hill does it roll?

g=−9.8ms2

Possible Answers:
a) 0.52m

b) 9.8m

c) 0.48m

d) 0.50m

e) 0.03m

Correct answer:
0.50m

Explanation:
Use the conservation of energy equation to solve for the potential energy at the top of the hill.

PEtop=KEbottom

mgh=12mv2

Plug in the values given to you and solve for the final height.

(0.5kg)(9.8ms2)(h)=12(0.5kg)(3.12ms)2

4.9kg⋅ms2h=2.4336kg⋅m2s2

h=2.4336kg⋅m2s24.9kg⋅ms2

h=0.497m≈0.5m
Example Question: Energy
6. A box is placed on top of a 3m tall spring resting on the ground. The box has a weight of 10N, and
compresses the spring 1m. What is the spring constant?

Possible Answers:
f) 10Nm

g) 40Nm

h) 5Nm

i) 20Nm

j) 30Nm

Correct answer:
20Nm

Explanation:
We need two formulas for this problem: the gravitational potential energy and the spring potential energy.

PEg=mgh

PEs=12kx2

We know the weight of the box and the change in height when it is placed on the spring. These values allow us
to calculate the change in potential energy. Due to conservation of energy, the total energy must remain
constant. Initially, the box only has gravitational potential energy. In its final position, it has both gravitational
and spring potential energy.

PEi=PEf

PEg1=PEg2+PEs

mgh1=mgh2+12kx2

We know the initial height and final height of the spring. This also gives us the value of x, the displacement of
the spring.

mg(3m)=mg(2m)+12k(1m)2

We also know the weight of the box: mg=10N

(10N)(3m)=(10N)(2m)+12k(1m)2

Now we can solve for the spring constant, k.

30J=20J+12k(1m2)

10J=(12m2)k

20Nm=k
Example Question: Energy
7. A man stands at the top of a 21m tall building. He holds a 3.2kg rock over the edge. What is the
potential gravitational energy of the rock?

Possible Answers:
a) 658.56J

b) 77J

c) 6.86J

d) 689.92J

e) 67.2J

Correct answer:
658.56J

Explanation:
Potential gravitational energy is given by the equation:

PE=mgh

We are told the height of the rock and its mass. Using the constant acceleration due to gravity, we can solve for
the gravitational potential energy.

PE=(3.2kg)(9.8ms2)(21m)

PE=658.56 kg⋅m2s2=658.56J