(a) Calculate the gravitational potential energy of a 2 kg mass..?

Question

(a) Calculate the gravitational potential energy of a 2 kg mass on the surface of the Earth.
J
(b) Calculate the gravitational potential energy at an altitude of 22 km.
J
(c) Take the difference between the results for parts (b) and (a), and then compare this with mgh, where h = 22 km.
J (difference between parts a and b)
J (mgh)

Answer 1

Absolute potential energy is G m / r where r is the distance between the object and the center of the Earth.

mgh is the difference in potential energy for a mass m compared between two points that are separated by a vertical distance h.

Your answer for (c) should be "they are the same."

Answer 2

Do you know the formula for grav. P. E. ??

Its Grav. P.E. = -GMm / R ...where R is the distance of object from center of earth.

Now do the calculations .

Or use Grav. P.E. = mgh...where h is the height above ground; and g is accel. due to gravity