Abrick lies perilously close to the edge of the flat roof of a building. the roof edge is 50 ft about street level and the brick has 320.0 j of potential energy with respect to street level. what is the bricks kinetic energy the instant before it hits the street surface?

first let us lay out the formula for potential

and kinetic energy:

pe = mgh

ke = (mv^2)/2

where: m=mass, v=velocity, g=gravitational

acceleration, h=height

calculating for mass using the known values of

pe:

340j = m (9.81 m/s^2) (50ft) (1m/3.28ft)

m = 2.27 kg

the law of conservation of energy states that

energy is neither created nor destroyed. therefore, the change in kinetic

energy from 50 ft to 35 ft would be equal to the change in potential energy

from 50 ft to 35 ft. however it would be opposite in signs since one is losing

while other is gaining.

ke(35ft) – ke(50ft) = - [ pe(35ft) – pe(50ft]

ke(50ft) = 0 since the brick is initially at rest

ke(35ft) = 340j - 2.27kg (9.81 m/s^2) (35ft)

(1m/3.28 ft)

ke(35ft)

= 102.38 j