Answer:
[tex]\Delta GPE=-3.92\ 10^9\ J[/tex]
Explanation:
Gravitational Potential Energy
It's the capacity of an object to do work due to its relative height from a fixed reference point.
It's computed as
GPE=m.g.h
Where m is the mass of the object, h is its height and g is the acceleration of gravity, [tex]g=9.8 m/sec^2[/tex]
The mass of water is given as
[tex]m=8,000,000\ kg[/tex]
The height above the rocks is h=50 m. Let's compute the GPE
[tex]GPE_1=(8,000,000\ kg)(9.8\ m/s^2)(50\ m)[/tex]
[tex]GPE_1=3,920,000,000\ Joule[/tex]
It should be expressed in scientific notation
[tex]GPE_1=3.92\ 10^9\ J[/tex]
The GPE at the bottom, where h=0
[tex]GPE_2=0[/tex]
The change of gravitational potential energy is:
[tex]\Delta GPE=GPE_2-GPE_1[/tex]
[tex]\boxed{\Delta GPE=-3.92\ 10^9\ J}[/tex]
