Question

An elevator of mass 2268 kg, rest at a level of 7.62 m above a base of elevator shaft. It is raised to 76.2 m above the base of the shaft, where the cable holding it breaks. The elevator falls freely to base of the shaft where it is brought to rest by a STRONG spring. The spring is assembled or planned to hold the elevator at the position of maximum spring compression by means of a ratchet mechanism. Assume the entire process to be frictionless and taking g as the standard acceleration of gravity 9.8066 m/s^2

calculate

a. gravitational potential energy of the elevator in its initial position relative to the base of the shaft

b. potential energy of the elevator in its highest position, relative to the base of the shaft

c. work done by raising the elevator