Question

Alex of mass 40 kg is standing at a cliff of height 15 m while his friend Sam of mass 50 kg is standing at another cliff of height 7 m. Who among them has greater potential energy?
Take g = 10 ms${}^{-2}$.

Answer 1

For Alex,
Mass = 40 kg, Height of cliff = 15 m
=> Potential Energy = mgh = 40 x 10 x 15 = 6000 J

For Sam,
Mass = 50 kg, Height of cliff = 7 m
=> Potential Energy = mgh = 50 x 10 x 7 = 3500 J

Hence, Alex will have greater potential energy than Sam.