Conservation of Energy and maximum height

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a block of mass M sliding up an incline, with discussions centered around the application of conservation of energy principles in both frictionless and rough scenarios. The participants are exploring how to determine the maximum height the block can reach based on its initial speed and the effects of friction.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the use of conservation of energy and work-energy principles to find the maximum height. There are questions about the assumptions made regarding initial speed and how it affects the final answer. Some participants express confusion about the presence of initial speed in the calculations.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants questioning each other's assumptions and reasoning. Some guidance has been offered regarding the treatment of initial speed and the relationship between the variables involved, but no consensus has been reached on the correct approach to the problem.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating constraints related to the problem's setup, including the effects of friction and the initial conditions provided. There is a noted discrepancy in how initial speed is treated, which is affecting the progression of the discussion.

Almoore01
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Hi, here's another problem I'm a little stuck on:

A block of mass M slides up an incline with an initial speed Vi in the position shown. (The figure is of a block sliding up an incline at an angle "theta" with a final height of "H."

Part A: If the incline in fritionless, determine the maximum height H to which the block will rise, in terms of the given quantities and appropriate constants.

Part B: If the incline is rough with a coefficient of sliding friction "u" (mew), determine the maximum height to which the block will rise in terms of "H" and given quantities.

For part A I just used Conservation of Energy and got the maximum height "H" to be H = (((Vi)^2)/(2g)), which is the right answer.

For part B, I know I have to use Work = (Change in K + Change in U). So I have:

(umg(cos (theta))) * distance = ((1/2)((Vf)^2) - (1/2)((Vi)^2)) + (mgHf - mgHi). The masses canceled out and I assumed that the initial height and initial and final velocities equaled 0, so then my answer ended up being Hf = ucos(theta) *d, which isn't the right answer...

Any suggestions?
 
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Why did you make the initial speed zero?
 
When I tried to work the problem through the first time, I couldn't get the Vi to reduce to anything or cancel out, so then I tried to go back through with the assumption that Vi = 0 because there's no Vi in the final answer.
 
It seems that Vi is a given in the problem. How do you reason that there is no Vi in the final answer?
 
I have that the final answer is h = H/(1 + ((u)/tan(theta))) (given by teacher.) I'm having trouble getting to that answer. If I don't assume that Vi is zero, I have (using Work done): (u = coefficient of sliding friction.)

W = delta K + delta U. (umg (cos(theta)) * d) = ((1/2)m((Vf)^2) - (1/2)m((Vi)^2)) + (mgHf - mgHi). Mass cancels, therefore: ug(cos(theta)) * d = ((1/2)((Vf)^2) - (1/2)((Vi)^2)) + (gHf - gHi). Initial height and final velocity are 0 (?) so then: ug(cos(theta)) * d = -(1/2)((Vi)^2) + gHf...

And from there...I'm stuck. I don't know how to make "d" and "Vi" cancel.
 
What is h?
 

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