Investigating the Kinetics of a Steel Ball Rolling on a Level Surface

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the kinetics of a steel ball rolling on a level surface and an experimental train powered by a jet engine. Participants are exploring concepts related to kinetic energy, work done by forces, and the relationships between these quantities in the context of physics problems.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the calculation of kinetic energy and the application of work-energy principles. There are attempts to derive the force acting on the steel ball and to understand the implications of gravitational potential energy in a level scenario. Questions arise regarding the correct application of formulas and the interpretation of initial conditions for the train problem.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on the relationship between work and kinetic energy, suggesting that initial kinetic energy can be considered zero when starting from rest. There is ongoing exploration of how to calculate final speed and kinetic energy without knowing velocity directly, indicating a productive exchange of ideas.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating potential misunderstandings about the relevance of gravitational potential energy in a level surface context. There are also discrepancies noted in the calculations of forces and weights, which may affect the overall understanding of the problems presented.

jai6638
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A steel ball has a mass of 4 kg and rolls along a smooth level surface at 62 m/s.

a) Find its kinetic energy ( i found this.. )

b) At first, the ball was at rest on the surface. A constant force acted on it through a distance of 22 m to give it the speed of 62 m/s. What was the magnitude of the force?

so here's my thought process:

.5 mv^2 + mgh = .5mv^2 + mgh
0 = .5mv^2+mgh
-.5mv^2=mgh
mg=- .5mv^2/h
mg= - .5 x 4 x 62^2/22
mg= -350 N


is the above method correct?

Q2) In the 1950's, an experimental train that had a mass of 2.50x10^4 was powered across a level track by a jet engine that produced a thrust of 5x10^5 N for adistance of 509 m.

a) Find the work done on the train. ( found this to be 2.545E8)
b) Find the change in kinetic energy. ( 2.545E8)
c) Find the final kinetic energy of the train if it started from rest. ( how do i find this?? .5 mv^2 won't wrk since i don't know what the velocity is )
d) find the final speed of the train if there were no friction ( how do i find this?? )

thanks much
 
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On your b) you should have used

[tex]\sum_{i=1}^{n} W_{i} = \Delta K[/tex]
 
Cyclovenom said:
On your b) you should have used

[tex]\sum_{i=1}^{n} W_{i} = \Delta K[/tex]

so ur saying i would use W= delta K = fd?

but i'd still get the same answer of 350 N...
 
Yes, but i don't know where you got Potential Gravitational energy, the problem doesn't refers to a not leveled surface, plus there's inconsistency, because you got mg = -350N when that is weight, and the weight of the object is about 39.2 N.
 
is the magnitude of force = 1.69 x 10^5 n??

thanks
 
jai6638 said:
Q2) In the 1950's, an experimental train that had a mass of 2.50x10^4 was powered across a level track by a jet engine that produced a thrust of 5x10^5 N for adistance of 509 m.

a) Find the work done on the train. ( found this to be 2.545E8)
b) Find the change in kinetic energy. ( 2.545E8)
c) Find the final kinetic energy of the train if it started from rest. ( how do i find this?? .5 mv^2 won't wrk since i don't know waht the velocity is )
d) find the final speed of the train if there were no friction ( how do i find this?? )

thanks much

c) that's easy - it just means that KEi = 0 .. when KEi = 0, KEf = Work!
d) well then .5v^2 = work and then u can find v :-p
 
futb0l said:
c) that's easy - it just means that KEi = 0 .. when KEi = 0, KEf = Work!
d) well then .5v^2 = work and then u can find v :-p

so c= 2.545 x 10^8 right?
 

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