Conservation of Mechanical Energy in truck

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a problem in mechanics involving the conservation of mechanical energy. A runaway truck is moving down a ramp and is required to stop on a frictionless emergency escape ramp with a specific incline.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the potential energy at the top of the ramp and the kinetic energy at the bottom. There is an attempt to relate these energies to find the height of the ramp. Some participants express uncertainty about their calculations and the next steps.

Discussion Status

The discussion has seen some participants offering guidance on how to relate potential and kinetic energy. There is an indication that one participant has made progress in understanding the problem, but no consensus or final resolution has been reached.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the assumption that the truck can be treated as a particle and are considering the effects of energy conservation without friction. There is mention of specific values for mass, speed, and angle, but the overall setup remains under discussion.

kappcity06
Messages
90
Reaction score
0
a runaway truck with failed brakes is moving downgrade at 150km/h (41.6 m/s) just before the driver steers the truck travel up a frictionless emergency escape ramp with an inclination of 15°. The truck's mass is 5000 kg.

What minimum length L must the ramp have if the truck is to stop (momentarily) along it? (Assume the truck is a particle).

i have its potenail enegry when it is at the top of the raqmp to be mgh or 49000sin15? I'm do not know if this is right. thekentic energy would be 1/2mv^2 or 4326400 at the bottom of the ramp. I am not sure where to go now. please help
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The potential energy at the top would be just mgh, or 49000h. You know the kinetic energy at the bottom. Now apply the title of your post to this data to find h. :smile:
 
ok i will try it
 
ok thanks i got it
 

Similar threads

How to balance gravitational energy and kinetic energy?
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
2K
How Long Should a Ramp Be to Stop a Ford Ranger with Brake Failure?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
Work Required to Move a Piano Onto a Truck
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
Work and Energy Problem. Why not include PE?
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
4K
Minimum Length of Emergency Escape Ramp for Truck to Stop
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
13K
How Long Should a Gravel Ramp Be to Stop a Runaway Truck?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
7K
Will the Truck Roll Back Down the Slope Due to Insufficient Friction?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Hwk. Problem: Work, Energy, Power
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
6K
Truck brakes and the distance they travel
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
9K
Conservation of Energy on a frictionless incline
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
4K