Conceptual work/energy question

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A, the distance from the edge will be the same.In summary, the new horizontal distance from the edge of the slide will remain the same as the old distance because the effects of friction and air resistance are negligible, leading to no change in potential energy and kinetic energy. This is due to the fact that the speed of Person A remains the same regardless of the angle of the slide.
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Inertialforce
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Homework Statement


Person A is seen going down a slide with height "h". A few seconds later the same person A is seen going down a steeper slide with the same height "h" (same height for both slides). Using principles of physics, explain how the new horizontal distance from the edge of the slide compares with the first situation. Friction and air resistance are negligible.


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


The conclusion I came to was:

With the new horizontal distance from the edge of the slide, nothing would change because if you neglect the effects of friction and air resistance then that means that you neglect all non-conservative forces and the work done by it. Therefore without any non-conservative forces to effect the system, the change in potential energy would therefore equal the change in kinetic energy (or ΔEp = ΔEk). To sum it up, the steeper slide makes no difference because the only thing that has changed is the angle of the slide.

Would this be correct?
 
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Correct.
 
  • #3
Remember since h remains the same. Ep and Ek are related by [tex]v = \sqrt{2gh}[/tex]
 

1. What is the difference between work and energy in conceptual physics?

Work is the transfer of energy from one system to another, while energy is the ability to do work. In other words, work is a process that results in a change in energy, while energy is a property that an object possesses.

2. How is the concept of work and energy related in physics?

In physics, work and energy are closely related concepts. Work is defined as the force applied to an object multiplied by the distance it moves in the direction of the force. Energy, on the other hand, is the ability to do work. This means that work is a way to transfer energy from one object to another.

3. Can work be negative in physics?

Yes, work can be negative in physics. This happens when the force applied and the displacement of the object are in opposite directions. In this case, the work done on the object is considered to be negative, which means that the energy of the object decreases.

4. How is kinetic energy related to work in physics?

Kinetic energy is the energy an object possesses due to its motion. It is directly related to work, as the work done on an object is equal to the change in its kinetic energy. This means that when work is done on an object, its kinetic energy either increases or decreases depending on the direction of the force applied.

5. What are some common examples of work and energy in everyday life?

Some common examples of work and energy in everyday life include lifting an object, riding a bike, and turning on a light bulb. When you lift an object, you are using energy to do work against the force of gravity. Riding a bike involves converting your energy into kinetic energy to move the bike forward. Turning on a light bulb requires electrical energy to do work and produce light.

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