Work through the following problems using the gravitational potential energy equation GPE = mgh.
1. If a 63-kg pole vaulter reaches a height of 6 m above the floor, what is his gravitational potential energy?
2. If a second pole vaulter reaches a height of 6 m above the floor, and if his stored gravitational potential energy is 3,300 J, what is his mass in kg?
3. An 8.0-kg physics textbook is placed on a 1.25-m high desk. How large is its gravitational potential energy relative to the desktop?
4. Think back to the penny experiment. If you deflect a ruler so that it stores 20 J of potential energy, what height will your penny reach? The mass of a penny is 0.0025 kg.