# Conceptual work/energy question

1. Nov 5, 2008

### Inertialforce

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
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.

2. Relevant equations

3. 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?

2. Nov 5, 2008

Correct.

3. Nov 5, 2008

### djeitnstine

Remember since h remains the same. Ep and Ek are related by $$v = \sqrt{2gh}$$