Name:______________________________________ Date:________________ Class:_____
Practice Problems- Potential and Kinetic Energy
GPE = mgh
KE = ½ mv2
1. A rifle can shoot a 0.0042 kg bullet at a speed of 965 m/s. Find the kinetic energy of the bullet.
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2. An automobile to be transported by ship is raised 7.3 m above the dock. If its GPE is 66,375 J, what is the
car’s mass?
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3. A 725 kg car has a KE of 302,000J. How fast is the car traveling?
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4. If a meteor traveling with a speed of 70,000 m/s has a KE of 425,900,000 J, what is its mass?
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5. A sea turtle has a mass of 860 kg. If the GPE of the turtle is 20,500 J as it is being lifted onto a ship, how
high above the water is the turtle?
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6. A large chunk of ice with mass 15 kg falls from a roof 8 meters above the ground. Find the
potential energy of the ice.
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7. A bike rider approaches a hill with a speed of 8.5 m/s. The total mass of the bike and the rider is
85 kg. Find the kinetic energy of the bike and rider.
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8. A high jumper has a mass of 85.0 kg and a GPE of 1970 J. How high does he jump?
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9. A 1750 kg weather satellite has a GPE of 169,311,000J. How high above the earth’s surface is the satellite?
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10. Identical twins Pat and Chris are painting a house. Pat is standing on the scaffolding 5 meters above the
ground. Chris is standing on the scaffolding 5 meters above Pat. Who has more potential energy?
Explain.
11. What is the GPE of a 73 kg tourist on a tower that is 323 m above the ground?
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12. The KE of a golf ball is measured to be 143.3 J. If the golf ball has a mass of 0.047 kg, what is its speed?
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13. What is the mass of a child that has a KE of 400 J who is riding her bike at 3.9 m/s?
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14. Jared and Clay are climbing the stairs. Jared gets tired and stops halfway to the fourth floor. Clay makes it
to the fourth floor without a problem. If Jared is twice as heavy as Clay, who has more potential energy?
Explain.