Answer: 78400 J
Explanation:
The gravitational potential energy is the energy that a body or object possesses, due to its position in a gravitational field. That is why this energy depends on the relative height of an object with respect to some point of reference and associated with the gravitational force.
In the case of the Earth, in which the gravitational field is considered constant, the value of the gravitational potential energy [tex]U_{p}[/tex] will be:
[tex]U_{p}=mgh[/tex]
Where:
[tex]m=100 kg[/tex] is the mass of the skydiver
[tex]g=9.8 m/s^{2}[/tex] the acceleration due gravity
[tex]h=80 m[/tex] the height of the skydiver
Hence:
[tex]U_{p}=(100 kg)(9.8 m/s^{2})(80 m)[/tex]
[tex]U_{p}=78400 J[/tex]
