A7.1 kg watermelon is placed at one end of a 4.8 m, 260 n scaffolding supported by two cables. one supporting cable is at the opposite end of the scaffolding, and the other is 0.53 m from the watermelon. how much tension is in the cable at the end of the scaffolding? the acceleration of gravity is 9.8 m/s 2 . answer in units of n

answer: the potential energy decreases from 379 j to 243 j

explanation:

for the law of conservation of energy, the total energy in a system must be conserved. the total energy of the system is given by the sum of kinetic (k) and potential (u) energy:

e = k + u

the total energy is e=675 j, and this does not change.

initially, the kinetic energy is k=296 j, so the potential energy is

at the end, the kinetic energy is k=432 j, so the potential energy is

so, we see that the potential energy has decreased from 379 j to 243 j.