Edexcel IGCSE Physics 4.13 Gravitational Potential Energy Questions

Apply GPE = mgh to lifted balls, blocks, people and flowing water, making sure mass is in kilograms and height in metres.

Syllabus
First assessment 2019
Course
Physics 4PH1

Exam points

  • Substitute mass, gravitational field strength and height into GPE = mgh for lifted blocks, water, balls or people.
  • Rearrange GPE = mgh to calculate mass from a stated gravitational potential energy and height.
  • Convert grams to kilograms or centimetres to metres before evaluating gravitational potential energy.

Edexcel IGCSE Physics 4.13 Gravitational Potential Energy Questions question 1

[Maximum number: 2]

A student uses this apparatus to investigate how the efficiency of an electric motor varies with its input voltage.

Figure for Question Edexcel IGCSE Physics 4.13 Gravitational Potential Energy Questions question 1 — Edexcel IGCSE Physics

This is the student's method.
- connect the electric motor to a d.c. power supply and a joulemeter
- attach a 1.0 kg mass to the electric motor using a length of string
- set the voltage of the power supply to 10 V and switch on the power supply
- switch off the power supply when the mass has been lifted through a distance of 50 cm
- record the input energy to the motor from the joulemeter
- calculate the energy transferred to the gravitational store of the mass
- calculate the efficiency of the motor

The student repeats this process, setting the power supply to a different voltage each time.

Show that the gravitational store of the 1.0 kg mass increases by 5.0 J when it is lifted through a distance of 50 cm .

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