A lemon with mass 0.3 kg falls out of a tree from a height of 1.8 m. How much mechanical energy does the lemon have just before it hits the ground? (Assume there is no air resistance.)

Question

shane_b · Answer

Mechanical energy is the energy that is possessed by an object due to its motion or due to its position.  It can either be kinetics (energy due to its motion) or potential (energy due to its position).  

In this problem you know it starting position so you can calculate it's potential energy (PE):
$$PE=mass*gravity*height=0.3kg*9.8m/s^2*1.8m=?$$The answer will typically be given in joules:$$1J=\frac{kg*m^2}{s^2}$$

anonymous · Answer

5.3

anonymous · Answer

just use potential energy(mgh) since you have the mass height and g is a const