For direction or speed (=velocity) to change, there has to be an external applied force. In your scenario, there is no applied force.shantgaurav1012 said:.If yes then why?
If it comes to a hill, it will slow down (losing kinetic and gaining potential energy) and, on the way down the other side it will speed up, (losing the PE and gaining the KE it lost) The effect of gravity takes no net energy from the system if it regains the original level. If the track went right round the world, the same thing would apply.Nidum said:So what happens if the surface is frictionless and nominally level but imperfect - ie with lots of small humps and hollows ?
I think you just said frictionless and level but not frictionless or level.Nidum said:So what happens if the surface is frictionless and nominally level but imperfect - ie with lots of small humps and hollows ?
Nidum said:So what happens if the surface is frictionless and nominally level but imperfect - ie with lots of small humps and hollows ?
'Fraid not. In the absence of friction, there will be no energy lost. Merely deflecting the body will not take energy from the system. Read what I wrote above. We are discussing a non-intuitive ideal situation.pixel said:When it encounters a small bump, there would be a component of force opposite to the direction of motion of the object, tending to slow it down a little. It will eventually come to a halt if there are enough imperfections on the surface.
Yes. It all depends on how real you want to get.Khashishi said:We usually distinguish between friction (of objects in contact) and elasticity of collisions. If the collisions are perfectly elastic, then as you go over some bumpy terrain, the object will possibly start bouncing around, since there's no dissipation to keep it stuck to the ground. If the collisions aren't elastic, then you can lose some energy going over rough terrain even if the contact friction is negligible.
sophiecentaur said:'Fraid not. In the absence of friction, there will be no energy lost. Merely deflecting the body will not take energy from the system. Read what I wrote above. We are discussing a non-intuitive ideal situation.
Motion on a frictionless surface refers to the movement of an object on a surface where there is no friction or resistance present. This means that the object can move without any external forces acting on it.
In motion on a frictionless surface, the object will continue to move at a constant speed and direction unless acted upon by an external force. On a surface with friction, the object's movement will be affected by the resistance or friction from the surface, causing it to slow down or stop.
Some examples of motion on a frictionless surface include a hockey puck sliding on ice, a roller coaster gliding along its tracks, and a spacecraft traveling through outer space.
Friction plays a significant role in motion on a frictionless surface as it is the absence of friction that allows the object to move without any resistance. If there were friction present, it would impede the object's movement and cause it to slow down or stop.
Understanding motion on a frictionless surface has numerous real-world applications, such as in the design of vehicles and machinery, predicting the movement of celestial bodies, and studying the behavior of particles in physics experiments. It also helps in the development of technologies such as magnetic levitation trains and hoverboards.