Conservation Laws Homework help

[Lorax]

Hi, I'm having a few problems with my Homework I'll post one question for now then if I find out where I got stuck I'll go on to my next question. Alright...

"A 1500kg car accelerates up a hill in an attempt to pass a semi truck, it had an initial velocity of 12m/s if accelerated at a rate of 2m/s^2 for the 180m up the slope. If the hill had a vertical height of 15m and ther was 400j of work done by the friction how much work was done by the cars engine?"

Alright, well I know the Mass, Vi, A, D, G, H, and Vf and the W done by the friction.

But I'm a little unsure about how to go about figuring this question out. If someone could start me off that would be great.

[Parth Dave]

First of all, energy must be conserved (as you suggested). So, try to find an expression for the initial energy and the final energy.

[rayveldkamp]

Hi,
The total energy of the system must be conserved, now at the start the car has velocity 12m/s and hence kinetic energy: 1/2mv^2. Since the change in the potential energy depends on CHANGE in height, assume it has initial height of zero, and so the total initial energy is: 1/2 m(12^2).
Now since acceleration is constant you can use
vf^2=vi^2 +2ad
Put your values in to get vf, then u can get the final kinetic energy. Then calculate the change in potential energy: mg(15)
Now the final kintetic energy plus the potential energy, subtract 400J should equal the initial kinetic energy.
Hope that helps

[Lorax]

yeah thanks you two, I had figured out the final kinetic energy, and potential energy but was a biy unsure as to what to do with the 400j. Thanks! I'll add my next question in an hour or so.

[Lorax]

Actually now that I relooked over my answer that doesnt make any sense to me I get a number like 8687250-400. Can someone verify if what rayveld said is correct. Also if someone could maybe rewrite what he said that would be great help.

[rayveldkamp]

Hi sorry if my last post was confusing i was in a rush. My answer to it came out as:
3,254,730 - 400=3,254,330 J
I don't know if its right but there should be a lot of work done by the car's engine to accelerate it at 2m/s.

[Lorax]

can someone verirify if rayveld has the right asnwer I did it and keep getting something different