Conservation of Mechanical Energy

[VitaX]

Homework Statement

A uniform solid ball rolls smoothly along a floor, then up a ramp inclined at 19.0 degrees. It momentarily stops when it has rolled 2.20 m along the ramp. What was its initial speed?

Homework Equations

Kinematic Equations
Conservation of Momentum

The Attempt at a Solution

I used a=(5/7)g*sin(theta)

then used V^2 - Vo^2 = 2a(x-xo) and solved for Vo. My answer is correct but I'm wondering if there is another approach to solving this problem?

 

[ehild]

You can use conservation of energy.

ehild

 

[Delzac]

Calculate the vertical height that the ball has gain, that's the gain in Gravitational Potential energy. There will be a equivalent lose of kinetic energy. Equate those them together solve for V.

delzac

 

[VitaX]

Ah ok, yes I got the same answer as I did before utilizing the rotational kinetic energy, kinetic energy and potential energy. Not as hard as I was making it out to be.