Conservation of energy and fricion

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on a physics problem involving the conservation of energy and friction in a car's motion down a hill. The car accelerates to a speed of 49.3 m/s at the bottom of a 133-meter hill inclined at 35 degrees, with friction coefficients of 0.07 on the hill and 0.08 on the straight road. The participant seeks clarification on whether to include the potential energy (PE) term from the initial height when calculating the stopping distance after reaching the straight road. The consensus is that the initial PE can be omitted if the calculations are based on the speed at the bottom of the hill.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Newton's laws of motion
  • Knowledge of conservation of energy principles
  • Familiarity with friction coefficients and their impact on motion
  • Basic algebra for manipulating equations
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the principles of energy conservation in mechanical systems
  • Learn about calculating work done by friction forces
  • Explore kinematic equations for motion under constant acceleration
  • Investigate the effects of different friction coefficients on stopping distances
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Students studying physics, particularly those focusing on mechanics, as well as educators looking for practical examples of energy conservation and friction in real-world scenarios.

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Homework Statement



Got an assignment from the teacher to present a problem I have made by myself and show how I have done it, so I have no answer to refer to in this particular question. Anyways,

A car is pushed so that it gains a speed of 2m/s just off a steep road, which has an angle of 35 degrees from the ground. Assume the friction constant is 0.07 from the top to the bottom of the hill. After the steep road, the road is straight. Between the tires and the ground on this straight road the friction is 0.08. The difference in height is 133 meters (from the straight ground to the top of the hill). Assume no force other than the friction that is working against the motion. I want to calculate the distance before it stops.

So I have calculated the speed at the bottom, which is 49,3 m/s. But, to calculate the distance the car needs to stop I use;

1/2mv^2+mhg=1/2mv_0^2+mgh_0+W_R

Ok, now to my question;
I know that I should cancel out the first two terms (1/2 mv^2 + mgh), but am I allowed to calcel out mgh_0 because I don't anymore do use the height difference, given that I already calculated the speed at the beginning of the straight road?

Homework Equations


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The Attempt at a Solution


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Last edited:
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Sure. If you started at the top of the hill as your initial point, and used the end of the motion as your final point, then you'd have to include the initial PE. But since you did it the other way, you can omit the PE terms on both sides.
 

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