Gravitational Potential Energy of a skateboard

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of gravitational potential energy in the context of a skateboarder descending different slopes. Participants are tasked with ranking the slopes based on the work done by gravitational force during the descent.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to rank the slopes based on potential energy, initially believing that the slope with the highest potential energy should correspond to the greatest work done. Some participants question the assumptions regarding the change in height across the slopes.

Discussion Status

The discussion has progressed with participants clarifying the relationship between change in height and potential energy. A realization has been reached that the change in height is consistent across all slopes, leading to a shared understanding of the implications for work done.

Contextual Notes

Participants are exploring the implications of the same change in height for all slopes, which affects their initial assumptions about potential energy and work done.

galtspeaking
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Homework Statement



[PLAIN]https://dl.dropbox.com/u/9215647/webassign%20s.JPG

Rank the slopes (greatest first) according to the work done on the skater by the gravitational force during the descent on each slope,


Homework Equations



work=change in potential energy, ie. delta U = mg*(delta)h

The Attempt at a Solution



since potential energy is greatest at slope 1, shouldn't the rank be 1,2,3? but that is wrong..what am I doing wrong in this question then?
 
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The change in height is the same for all three slopes. What does that tell you about the change in potential for each?
 
ah, I see..so they are all the same, b/c mgh is the same for all of them,

i was considering the total height each of the slopes from the origin, i think that's where i was wrong
 
Correct!
 

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