Consider a situation where you carry a 20-N box up a flight of stairs, raising its elevation by 5 m. You drop the box. As it falls to its original level, its kinetic energy is

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The kinetic energy of the box just before it hits the ground would be equal to the potential energy it had at the top of the stairs. The potential energy (PE) at the top can be calculated using the formula PE = mgh, where m is the mass, g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s^2), and h is the height. Since the weight of the box is given as 20 N (which is the force due to gravity on the mass of the box), we can directly use it in place of the product of mass and gravity. Therefore, PE = 20 N * 5 m = 100 J. This potential energy converts to kinetic energy (KE) as the box falls, so the kinetic energy just before impact would also be 100 J.

Consider a Situation Where You Carry a 20-N Box Up