Ball rolling off ramp - what happens?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the physics of a ball rolling off a ramp, specifically analyzing the changes in its vertical and horizontal components of motion. It is established that while the horizontal component of velocity remains constant, the vertical component contributes to the ball's kinetic energy as it transitions from the ramp to free fall. The conservation of energy principle is crucial in determining the final kinetic energy and speed of the ball after it leaves the ramp. The free body diagram illustrates the forces acting on the ball, confirming that both gravity and the normal force affect its motion.

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Homework Statement


http://puu.sh/2fjvF
If a ball rolls off a ramp like in the diagram, what happens in terms of vertical and horizontal components? Neglecting all friction etc, I understand the horizontal component would not change, but what happens when it comes off the ramp? Does the horizontal component increase? If not, where does the kinetic energy from the vertical component go, since it only has a horizontal component now...

Thanks
 
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The horizontal component does change. If you look at the free body diagram for the object (neglecting fricton) you see that there are two forces acting: gravity and the normal force. These combine to give a resultant (net) force parallel to the ramp, which means that the acceleration has both vertical and horizontal components.

Without having to consider all of those details, you can easily get the final kinetic energy and hence speed, using conservation of energy.
 
Thanks a lot cepheid! I didn't even think of the inclined plane force diagram, silly me :p

All the best.
 

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