Help with change in internal energy for a real system.

AI Thread Summary
Tarzan, with a mass of 110 kg, drops from a height of 3.0 m, reaching a speed of 6.261 m/s just before hitting the ground. The discussion focuses on calculating the net change in internal energy as he transitions from falling to a crouched position at a height of 0.5 m. While the kinetic energy is straightforward for the point particle system, the real system requires consideration of energy exerted to stop his fall. The participant is uncertain about how to approach the internal energy change, emphasizing the need to factor in both kinetic and potential energy. Understanding the difference between the point particle and real system calculations is crucial for solving the problem accurately.
guitarguy1
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Homework Statement



Tarzan, whose mass is 110 kg, is hanging at rest from a tree limb. Then he let's go and falls to the ground. Just before he let's go, his center of mass is at a height 3.0 m above the ground and the bottom of his dangling feet are at a height 2.0 above the ground. When he first hits the ground he has dropped a distance 2.0, so his center of mass is (3.0 - 2.0) above the ground. Then his knees bend and he ends up at rest in a crouched position with his center of mass a height 0.5 above the ground.
(a) Consider the point particle system. What is the speed v at the instant just before Tarzan's feet touch the ground?
(b) Consider the real system. What is the net change in internal energy for Tarzan from just before his feet touch to the ground to when he is in the crouched position?

Homework Equations



Fnet x distance = 1/2mv^2

The Attempt at a Solution



Part (a) was easy. I got 6.261 m/s. I'm having trouble with part (b). I at first thought it might be 0 J since it asks to consider the real system rather than point particle system, but that's not right. I understand that its just the energy exerted to bring him to a stop, but I'm not really sure what to do here.
 
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Not 100% sure, but I think you just consider the kinetic and potential energy.
 
Redbelly98 said:
Not 100% sure, but I think you just consider the kinetic and potential energy.

alright. But, I'm having trouble calculating the kinetic energy since this is for a real system whereas the other value i calculated was the velocity for the point-particle system.
 
The velocity of the center-of-mass would be used for either the point particle or the real system.
 
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