Suppose a skydiver (mass = 75 kg) is falling toward the earth. when the skydiver is 100 m above the earth he is moving at 60 m/s. at this point calculate the skydiver’s gravitational potential energy kinetic energy total mechanical energy

  Potential energy = 73.575 kJ

  Kinetic energy = 135kJ

  Total mechanical energy = 208.575 kJ

Explanation:

   The potential energy of a body is given by the expression, PE = mgh, where m is the mass of the body, g is the acceleration due to gravity value and h is the height of the body.

  The kinetic energy of a body is given by , where v is the velocity and m is the mass of body.

  Total mechanical energy = Kinetic energy + Potential energy

  PE = mgh = 75*9.81*100 = 73575 J = 73.575 kJ

  Total mechanical energy = Kinetic energy + Potential energy = 135+73.575

                                             = 208.575 kJ