How much energy is generated by the fall of one ton 5 feet?

Answer 1

As in science we use the international units of measurement I will deliberately use the metric tonne of 1000 kg of mass and I will provide two results one for the five feet for those who can not think metric and one for 1.5 meters (which is about five feet).
O.K. for those who know nothing about the international system and live in the only nation that refuses to use those units in daily life I add as a third example the answer for an US ton

Energy is not generated - it is just converted. From potential to kinetic.
1000 kg of mass hanging at a height of 5 feet (= 60 inches = 1.524m) represent an energy of 9810N times 1.524m = 14950Nm or 14950J or 14950 Ws or 14.95 kWs

If you take a height of 1.5m the energy of the block of 1000kg represents 9810N times 1,5m = 14715Nm or 14715J or 14715Ws or 14.715kWs

If you take that outdated US short ton which is 2000 lbs which is is 907.18474 kg in scientific units then the energy is
907.18474 kg * 9.81m/sec^2 = 8899.4823N times 1.524m
=13562.8 Nm = 13562.8J = 13562.8Ws =13.5628 kWs

I hope this helps

By the way: SS4 is right - his answer is correct

Answer 2

[Edit] In response to Edward:
1 ton is 2000 lbs, 1 metric ton is 2204.6 lbs, but they meant english ton, or else the units of height would have been in meters. Also, the pound is a unit of weight, so multiplying by 32.2 has no meaning, because this is already calculated into pounds. Read below about slugs.

In response to Kes:
While the process you mention is not really answering the question, it can be reversed. Ever heard of a steam engine?

[Original Post]

Energy of this object can be considered in potential and kinetic. Potential is E=mgh, and kinetic is E = 1/2*mv^2. Where:
m = mass
g = acceleration of gravity
h = height
v = velocity

When it is still before you drop it, it has only potential energy. In english units, pounds are calculated with the acceleration of gravity already built into it (where the unit of mass is the slug, and gravity is 32.2 ft/s^2). So the m*g = one ton, or 2000 pounds. To get mgh, multiply by the height of 5 feet, so

Epotential = 10,000 ft-lbs

At the beginning it has no kinetic energy because it's not moving. At the end, it has no potential because it no longer has height, so all of the potential is transfered to kinetic (and eventually into the collision that causes the mass to stop moving), so the energy "generated" is

10,000 ft-lbs

Answer 3

If you hoist one ton (2,000Lbs) 5 feet you must do 2,000 x 5 = 10,000 ft-lbs of work which represents the 'potential energy' stored in the weight. Neglecting friction, the weight can return 10,000 ft-lb of work (energy) if it is lowered or falls.

Every 778 ft-lbs of work is equivalent to one BTU which can raise the temperature of one pound of water 1F. If the falling weight operates a paddle wheel to stir water, it can 'heat' a pound of water about 12.85F. Of course the process is not reversible and we can not raise the weight 5 feet by heating the paddle wheel water 12.85F (otherwise we could save a lot of money on gasoline for our cars!).

Answer 4

W=mgh

Work=energy=force times parallel to line of force distance.

W-energy
m - mass of the object
g - acceleration due to gravity (9.81m/s^2 - im Kg-m-s or 32ft/s^2 lb-ft-sec systems)
h - height

1 ton = 2,240pounds(mass)

W= 2,240 x 32x 5=358,400 ft pounds

Answer 5

1 ton = 2280 lbs
energy = 5*2280 in ft/lbs

Answer 6

W=mgh = 907*9.81*1.524 = 13.6kJ