a 4-kilogram cat is resting on top of a bookshelf that is 2 meters hig. What is the cat's gravitational potential energy relative to the floor if the acceleration due to gravity is 9.8m/s^2?

Question

a 4-kilogram cat is resting on top of a  bookshelf that is 2 meters hig. What is the cat's gravitational potential energy relative to the floor if the acceleration due to gravity is 9.8m/s^2?

anonymous · Answer

let's say the cat were on the floor, and we pick it up and gently move it from the floor to the shelf. how much force do we need to apply? how much work have we done after the cat is on the shelf? that's going to be the cat's potential energy.

anonymous · Answer

To expand on what gsoda said:
$$W=F*l$$
$$F=M*a$$