Question
Read the text about a person in motion.
Sean stood in the center of the highest diving board at a public pool. He stared
at the water far below him and then decided he did not want to jump. So, he
climbed carefully down the ladder. He walked across the flat deck to the side of
the pool. Then, he sat down and dipped his feet in the water.
When was the least gravitational potential energy stored between Sean and Earth? Assume
that Sean’s mass did not change.
when he decided that he did not want to jump off
the diving board
when he started climbing carefully down the ladder
when he was sitting on the side of the pool
wher
Sean stood in the center of the highest diving board at a public pool. He stared
at the water far below him and then decided he did not want to jump. So, he
climbed carefully down the ladder. He walked across the flat deck to the side of
the pool. Then, he sat down and dipped his feet in the water.
When was the least gravitational potential energy stored between Sean and Earth? Assume
that Sean’s mass did not change.
when he decided that he did not want to jump off
the diving board
when he started climbing carefully down the ladder
when he was sitting on the side of the pool
wher
Ask by Warren Robbins. in the United States
Jan 25,2025
Upstudy AI Solution
Tutor-Verified Answer
Answer
Sean had the least gravitational potential energy when he was sitting on the side of the pool.
Solution
To determine when Sean had the least gravitational potential energy stored between him and the Earth, we need to understand the concept of gravitational potential energy (GPE). The formula for gravitational potential energy is given by:
where:
-
is the mass of the object (in this case, Sean), -
is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately ), -
is the height of the object above the reference point (the ground or water level).
Analyzing the Situation
-
When Sean was on the diving board: At this point, he was at the highest position above the water, so he had the maximum height
and therefore the maximum gravitational potential energy. -
When he started climbing down the ladder: As he descended, his height
decreased, which means his gravitational potential energy also decreased. -
When he was sitting on the side of the pool: At this point, he was at the water level, which is the lowest height
in this scenario. Therefore, his gravitational potential energy would be at its minimum.
Conclusion
The least gravitational potential energy stored between Sean and the Earth occurred when he was sitting on the side of the pool. This is because he was at the lowest height relative to the water level, resulting in the lowest value of
Thus, the answer is:
When he was sitting on the side of the pool.
Answered by UpStudy AI and reviewed by a Professional Tutor
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Simplify this solution Bonus Knowledge
The least gravitational potential energy was stored when he was sitting on the side of the pool. At this point, Sean was closest to the water level, meaning he had the least height above the ground. Since gravitational potential energy is calculated using the formula PE = mgh, where ‘h’ is the height, being at the water’s surface means he had the least potential energy compared to being on the diving board or climbing down.
When Sean stood on the diving board, he was at the highest point, maximizing his potential energy. As he climbed down, his potential energy decreased, but not as much as when he finally sat at the water’s edge, where the height—h—was zero. Thus, the thrilling dive transformed into a calming sit, all while minimizing potential energy!
