Suppose that you want to build a tower out of bricks. Suppose that each brick has a mass of 0.5 kg and is 0.1 m tall. You want the tower to be 20 bricks high, and we want to calculate how much energy is required to build it. The physics fact that you need is this: the energy, E (in Joules) required to lift a mass m (in kg) a height h (in m) is E = mgh (where g is the acceleration due to gravity - for this problem, you can take g to be 10 m/s2.) 1. We will assume that no energy is required to place the first brick in the tower, since it is already on the ground. What about the second brick? How high must if be lifted to be placed on top of the first brick? How much energy does that require? What about the third brick? The tenth brick?

College Physics
11th Edition
ISBN:9781305952300
Author:Raymond A. Serway, Chris Vuille
Publisher:Raymond A. Serway, Chris Vuille
Chapter1: Units, Trigonometry. And Vectors
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1CQ: Estimate the order of magnitude of the length, in meters, of each of the following; (a) a mouse, (b)...
icon
Related questions
icon
Concept explainers
Topic Video
Question

Suppose that you want to build a tower out of bricks. Suppose that each brick has a mass of 0.5 kg and is 0.1 m tall. You want the tower to be 20 bricks high, and we want to calculate how much energy is required to build it. The physics fact that you need is this: the energy, E (in Joules) required to lift a mass m (in kg) a height h (in m) is E = mgh (where g is the acceleration due to gravity - for this problem, you can take g to be 10 m/s2.)

1. We will assume that no energy is required to place the first brick in the tower, since it is already on the ground. What about the second brick? How high must if be lifted to be placed on top of the first brick? How much energy does that require? What about the third brick? The tenth brick?

Expert Solution
steps

Step by step

Solved in 4 steps with 38 images

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Kinetic energy
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, physics and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Recommended textbooks for you
College Physics
College Physics
Physics
ISBN:
9781305952300
Author:
Raymond A. Serway, Chris Vuille
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
University Physics (14th Edition)
University Physics (14th Edition)
Physics
ISBN:
9780133969290
Author:
Hugh D. Young, Roger A. Freedman
Publisher:
PEARSON
Introduction To Quantum Mechanics
Introduction To Quantum Mechanics
Physics
ISBN:
9781107189638
Author:
Griffiths, David J., Schroeter, Darrell F.
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
Physics for Scientists and Engineers
Physics for Scientists and Engineers
Physics
ISBN:
9781337553278
Author:
Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Lecture- Tutorials for Introductory Astronomy
Lecture- Tutorials for Introductory Astronomy
Physics
ISBN:
9780321820464
Author:
Edward E. Prather, Tim P. Slater, Jeff P. Adams, Gina Brissenden
Publisher:
Addison-Wesley
College Physics: A Strategic Approach (4th Editio…
College Physics: A Strategic Approach (4th Editio…
Physics
ISBN:
9780134609034
Author:
Randall D. Knight (Professor Emeritus), Brian Jones, Stuart Field
Publisher:
PEARSON