Figure 1 shows a funicular railway car descending a steep incline from the upper mountain station to the valley floor.
The mass of the funicular carriage, m=1250 kgm = 1250 \text{ kg}m=1250 kg.
The change in vertical height, h=85.0 mh = 85.0 \text{ m}h=85.0 m.
Gravitational field strength, g=9.8 N/kgg = 9.8 \text{ N/kg}g=9.8 N/kg.
Calculate the change in gravitational potential energy for the funicular carriage. Use the equation:
change in gravitational potential energy=mass×gravitational field strength×change in height \text{change in gravitational potential energy} = \text{mass} \times \text{gravitational field strength} \times \text{change in height} change in gravitational potential energy=mass×gravitational field strength×change in height