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Application of conservation of mechanical energy for free fall motion – problems and solutions

1. A 1-kg body falls freely from rest, from a height of 80 m. Acceleration due to gravity is 10 m/s2.
What the kinetic energy when the body hits the ground.
Known :
Mass (m) = 1 kg
Height (h) = 80 m
Acceleration due to gravity (g) = 10 m/s2
Wanted : kinetic energy when the body hits the ground
Solution :
The initial mechanical energy (MEo) = Gravitational potential energy (PE)
MEo = PE = m g h = (1)(10)(80) = 800 Joule

The final mechanical energy (MEt) = kinetic energy (KE)

Principle of conservation of mechanical energy :

MEo = MEt
PE = KE
800 = KE
The final kinetic energy is 800 Joule.

2. A 4-kg body falls freely from rest, from a height of 10 m. Acceleration due to gravity is 10 m s–2.
What is the kinetic energy and the velocity at 5 meters above the ground.
Known :
The change in height (h) = 10 – 5 = 5 meters
Mass (m) = 4 kg
Acceleration due to gravity (g) = 10 m/s2
Wanted : Kinetic energy at 5 meters above the ground and the velocity at 5 meters above the ground
Solution :

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