Patrick is repairing the roof on his house. he uses a hammer having a mass of 1 kilogram. while working at the apex of the roof, the hammer slips and falls to the ground at a velocity of 12 meters/second. find the potential energy of the hammer just before slipping.

72 joules

Explanation:

The potential energy of that hammer is a function of its displacement against gravity. Considering that it fell with a velocity of 12 m/s, it was its displacement against gravity that gave it this velocity. It will continue to move until its displacement to gravity is zero.

since the body is in motion; it has converted its potential energy (mgh, m is mass, g is acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height) to kinetic energy (energy due to motion, 1/2mv^2; m = mass, v = velocity or speed)

therefore the potential energy is equal to kinetic energy

mgh = 1/2mv^2 = 1/2 *1kg* 12*12 = 72 joules.

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