What if the same 20kg dog running 3m/s leaped off the ground. What is the mechanical energy now?

Question

Please show work, of how you found the mechanical energy.

Answer 1

To start its motion up, the dog must stop, and then to change its direction to vertical. Its kinetic energy (mV^2/2) will convert into elastic potential energy (its muscle work similar to a spring) and then into gravitational potential energy. Thus, ignoring some losses of energy, mechanical energy will be equal to EPg=mgh, where m is mass of the dog, h the height it reached, g free fallen acceleration.