Answered

steven and shawn are playing with a 0.200kg ball. steven is on top of a building that is 10.0 meters tall. he has the ball in his hand and is ready to let it drop. shaman, waiting at the base of the building, is ready to catch the ball. do not worry about the person's height. what is the gravitational potential energy of the ball with respect to steven before being released?



Answer :

AL2006

    Potential energy = (mass) x (gravity) x (height above the reference level).

With respect to Steven ... the dude you said is holding the ball and getting ready
to drop it ... its gravitational potential energy is zero.  Its height above him is zero.

With respect to Shawn or Shaman or Shmendrik or whoever it is standing on
the ground 10meters below, its potential energy is

                  (0.2kg) x (9.8 m/s²) x (10m) =  19.6 joules


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