A8 kilogram cat is resting on top of a bookshelf that is 2 meters high. what is the cat’s gravitational potential energy relative to the floor?

-ZERO-   No 17.6 pound Earth-bound cat is going to be able to jump to the top of a 6 feet 7 inch bookshelf unassisted!  Someone should call the SPCA on the writer of this textbook question ;-)

Assuming that this overweight cat is content being placed in such a lofty position, your professor probably wants the answer of 156.8 Joules

Mass x  Acceleration of Gravity (on Earth) x elevation = Potential Energy

8 Kg x 9.8 m/s2  x 2 m  = 156.8 J

the skeletons of most mammals reach a certain size and then stop growing. however, many animals, including some mammals, keep growing throughout their lives. kangaroos, for example, just keep growing and growing until they die. also, the longer an animal lives the greater the chance it might catch some deadly disease.