Acceleration on an inclined plane

In summary, the problem involves a skateboarder traveling down a 6.2 m long ramp inclined at 13° with an initial speed of 2.1 m/s. Neglecting friction, the task is to find the speed at the bottom of the ramp. Two possible approaches are suggested: using conservation of energy or the force-acceleration method.
  • #1
Ohoneo
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0

Homework Statement


A student is skateboarding down a ramp that is 6.2 m long and inclined at 13° with respect to the horizontal. The initial speed of the skateboarder at the top of the ramp is 2.1 m/s. Neglect friction and find the speed at the bottom of the ramp.


Homework Equations


F = ma
Not sure what else



The Attempt at a Solution


I honestly don't know where to start with this. There's no problem like this in the reference chapters.
I found the initial velocity components of the skateboarder.
x component = 2.05
y component = 0.47

But I'm stuck from here =/
 
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  • #2
Two ways to approach the problem:
1. Use conservation of energy. Equate the change in net kinetic energy of the body to the change in the gravitational potential energy.
2. Use force-acceleration method. Find out the net force acting on the body along the incline and hence the net acceleration of it. You know the initial velocity, you know the distance traveled by the body. Use the third equation of motion to obtain the velocity at the bottom of the ramp.
 

1. What is acceleration on an inclined plane?

Acceleration on an inclined plane is the change in velocity of an object as it moves along a sloped surface. It is caused by the force of gravity acting on the object and is affected by the angle of the incline and the mass of the object.

2. How is acceleration calculated on an inclined plane?

The formula for calculating acceleration on an inclined plane is a = gsinθ, where a is the acceleration, g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s^2), and θ is the angle of the incline.

3. How does the angle of the incline affect acceleration on an inclined plane?

The steeper the incline, the greater the acceleration will be. This is because the force of gravity acting on the object is stronger when the incline is steeper, causing the object to accelerate more quickly.

4. Can acceleration on an inclined plane be negative?

Yes, acceleration on an inclined plane can be negative if the object is moving in the opposite direction of the incline. For example, if an object is rolling down a hill, the acceleration will be negative because it is moving in the opposite direction of the incline's slope.

5. What is the difference between acceleration and speed on an inclined plane?

Acceleration and speed are related but different concepts. Acceleration is the rate of change of an object's velocity, while speed is the rate of change of an object's position. On an inclined plane, acceleration is affected by the angle of the incline and the force of gravity, while speed is affected by the incline's length and the object's initial velocity.

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