1. Calculate the potential energy of a shot put dropping from a height of 6 meters weighing 5.44 kg with a velocity of 9.8 m/sec.
Find the PE in Joules?
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

2. Calculate the potential energy of a shot put dropping from a height of 6 meters weighing 5.44 kg with a velocity of 9.8 m/sec.
Find the PE in Joules?
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

3. Find the PE in Joules? PE=mgh
Calculate the potential energy of a shot put dropping from a height of 6 meters weighing 5.44 kg with a velocity of 9.8 m/sec.
Find the PE in Joules? PE=mgh
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

4. PE = mgh m = 5.44 kg
g = 9.8 s2
h = 6 m
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

5. PE = mgh m = 5.44 kg g = 9.8 s2 h = 6 m PE = (5.44) (9.8) (6)
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

6. PE = mgh m = 5.44 kg g = 9.8 s2 h = 6 m PE = (5.44) (9.8) (6) PE =
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

7. PE = mgh m = 5.44 kg g = 9.8 s2 h = 6 m PE = (5.44) (9.8) (6)
PE = Joules
Copyright © 2010 Ryan P. Murphy

8. Discussion Question 1
What is the relationship between kinetic and potential energy during a roller coaster ride?

9. Discussion Question 2
Where on a roller coaster ride do you experience the most gravitational potential energy? The least?

10. Discussion Question 3
Would a roller coaster behave the same way no matter where it is located? Where might a roller coaster experience the most or least gravitational potential energy?

11. On which planet would we experience the least / most gravity?
Discussion Question 4
Though gravitational variations on earth are not detectable in our day to day activities, they are far more apparent when compared to gravity experienced on the Moon or other planets.
On which planet would we experience the least / most gravity?

12. On which planet would we experience the least / most gravity?
< Back
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Distance from the Sun (km) (Semi major axis of orbit)
57,909,227
108,209,475
149,598,262
227,943,824
778,340,821
1,426,666,422
2,870,658,186
4,498,396,441
Mean Equatorial Radius (km)
2,439.7 ( x Earth)
6,051.8 ( x Earth)
6, ()
3,389.5 ( x Earth)
69,911 ( x Earth)
58,232 ( x Earth)
25,362 ( x Earth)
24,622 ( x Earth)
Mass (kg)
x 1023
x 1024
x 1024
x 1023
x 1027
x 1026
x 1025
x 1026
Density (g/cm3)
5.427
5.243
5.513
3.934
1.326
0.687
1.270
1.638
Equatorial Surface Gravity (m/s2)
3.7
8.87
3.71
24.79
10.4*
11.15
Escape Velocity (km/h)
15,300
37,296
40,284
18,108
216,720
129,924
76,968
84,816
Major Atmospheric Constituents
Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen
Nitrogen, Oxygen
Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen, Argon
Hydrogen, Helium
Hydrogen, Helium, Methane
Moons
None
1 moon
2 moons
66 moons
62 moons
27 moons
13 moons
Rings No
Yes
On which planet would we experience the least / most gravity?

13. Which would make more for the most/least exciting roller coaster ride?
< Back
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Distance from the Sun (km) (Semi major axis of orbit)
57,909,227
108,209,475
149,598,262
227,943,824
778,340,821
1,426,666,422
2,870,658,186
4,498,396,441
Mean Equatorial Radius (km)
2,439.7 ( x Earth)
6,051.8 ( x Earth)
6, ()
3,389.5 ( x Earth)
69,911 ( x Earth)
58,232 ( x Earth)
25,362 ( x Earth)
24,622 ( x Earth)
Mass (kg)
x 1023
x 1024
x 1024
x 1023
x 1027
x 1026
x 1025
x 1026
Density (g/cm3)
5.427
5.243
5.513
3.934
1.326
0.687
1.270
1.638
Equatorial Surface Gravity (m/s2)
3.7
8.87
3.71
24.79
10.4*
11.15
Escape Velocity (km/h)
15,300
37,296
40,284
18,108
216,720
129,924
76,968
84,816
Major Atmospheric Constituents
Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen
Nitrogen, Oxygen
Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen, Argon
Hydrogen, Helium
Hydrogen, Helium, Methane
Moons
None
1 moon
2 moons
66 moons
62 moons
27 moons
13 moons
Rings No
Yes
Which would make more for the most/least exciting roller coaster ride?

14. Discussion Question 5
What other factors influence how efficiently potential energy is transformed into kinetic energy?
Can you think of ways to slow down a roller coaster or allow it to maintain speed over a longer distance?

15. How would your weight differ when standing on the surface of the moon?
Discussion Question 6
Gravitational potential energy defines the attraction experienced between two bodies. For example, when walking across the surface of planet Earth, your body is attracted to the Earth due the mass and density of the Earth. This same attraction can be translated into the weight you see when standing on a scale.
How would your weight differ when standing on the surface of the moon?

16. What planet would provide you with the most “weight loss”?
< Back
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Distance from the Sun (km) (Semi major axis of orbit)
57,909,227
108,209,475
149,598,262
227,943,824
778,340,821
1,426,666,422
2,870,658,186
4,498,396,441
Mean Equatorial Radius (km)
2,439.7 ( x Earth)
6,051.8 ( x Earth)
6, ()
3,389.5 ( x Earth)
69,911 ( x Earth)
58,232 ( x Earth)
25,362 ( x Earth)
24,622 ( x Earth)
Mass (kg)
x 1023
x 1024
x 1024
x 1023
x 1027
x 1026
x 1025
x 1026
Density (g/cm3)
5.427
5.243
5.513
3.934
1.326
0.687
1.270
1.638
Equatorial Surface Gravity (m/s2)
3.7
8.87
3.71
24.79
10.4*
11.15
Escape Velocity (km/h)
15,300
37,296
40,284
18,108
216,720
129,924
76,968
84,816
Major Atmospheric Constituents
Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen
Nitrogen, Oxygen
Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen, Argon
Hydrogen, Helium
Hydrogen, Helium, Methane
Moons
None
1 moon
2 moons
66 moons
62 moons
27 moons
13 moons
Rings No
Yes
What planet would provide you with the most “weight loss”?

17. What about weight gain? < Back Mercury Venus Earth Mars Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Distance from the Sun (km) (Semi major axis of orbit)
57,909,227
108,209,475
149,598,262
227,943,824
778,340,821
1,426,666,422
2,870,658,186
4,498,396,441
Mean Equatorial Radius (km)
2,439.7 ( x Earth)
6,051.8 ( x Earth)
6, ()
3,389.5 ( x Earth)
69,911 ( x Earth)
58,232 ( x Earth)
25,362 ( x Earth)
24,622 ( x Earth)
Mass (kg)
x 1023
x 1024
x 1024
x 1023
x 1027
x 1026
x 1025
x 1026
Density (g/cm3)
5.427
5.243
5.513
3.934
1.326
0.687
1.270
1.638
Equatorial Surface Gravity (m/s2)
3.7
8.87
3.71
24.79
10.4*
11.15
Escape Velocity (km/h)
15,300
37,296
40,284
18,108
216,720
129,924
76,968
84,816
Major Atmospheric Constituents
Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen
Nitrogen, Oxygen
Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen, Argon
Hydrogen, Helium
Hydrogen, Helium, Methane
Moons
None
1 moon
2 moons
66 moons
62 moons
27 moons
13 moons
Rings No
Yes
What about weight gain?

18. Any questions?

19. Discussion Question 3
Would a roller coaster behave the same way no matter where it is located? Where might a roller coaster experience the most or least gravitational potential energy?