Help challenging problem on energy and projectile motion

AI Thread Summary
The scenario involves a barrel that falls from a truck, slides down a slope, rolls on the shore, and ultimately lands in Loch Ness. Key details include the barrel's motion, the height of the road (14m), the distance from the slope's bottom to the water's edge (5.4m), and the mass of the spare lid (6.8 kg). The barrel bobs in the water with a frequency of 2.4 seconds, suggesting it is floating with a significant portion above the surface. To determine if there was whiskey in the barrel, calculations involving the barrel's buoyancy and the principles of projectile motion are necessary. The investigation aims to find out the barrel's contents based on the provided physical parameters.
jmb07
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One winter break, while visiting Scotland's Loch Ness, you stop to tour the ruins of Urquhart
Castle, which are found on the loch's western shore. A truck carrying barrels passes and, as it does, a
sealed barrel and a spare lid fall from the truck and land by the side of the road. The barrel comes to
rest at the very top of the snowy slope that leads down to the loch's shoreline. A few moments later, the
wind from the next car is just enough to push the barrel over the edge to slide, not roll, down the slick
slope. Once the barrel reaches the bottom, it begins to roll across the level shore. It rolls over exactly 3
times before rolling into a tree branch at the water's edge. Upon hitting the branch, the barrel is
knocked up and into the air, at what appears to be a 45 degree angle. It flies through the air for about 2
seconds before landing in the water. After it is in the water for a few moments, you notice that the
barrel is floating right side up with about half of it above the surface. To your astonishment, a small
aquatic creature, the likes of which you have never seen, begins to play with the barrel. Following one
particularly strong nudge to the barrel, which leaves the barrel bobbing up and down in the water, the
creature is scared away by shouts from other tourists. After recording that the barrel bobs up and down
once every 2.4 seconds you walk along the road to further investigate what you have just witnessed.
Your investigation reveals that the mass of the spare lid is 6.8 kg, the road is 14m above the shore, and
that distance from the bottom of the slope to the water's edge is 5.4m.
Now, you have enough information to answer a very important question, namely, was there any
whiskey in the barrel and, if so, how much?
 
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jmb07 said:
One winter break, while visiting Scotland's Loch Ness, you stop to tour the ruins of Urquhart
Castle, which are found on the loch's western shore. A truck carrying barrels passes and, as it does, a
sealed barrel and a spare lid fall from the truck and land by the side of the road. The barrel comes to
rest at the very top of the snowy slope that leads down to the loch's shoreline. A few moments later, the
wind from the next car is just enough to push the barrel over the edge to slide, not roll, down the slick
slope. Once the barrel reaches the bottom, it begins to roll across the level shore. It rolls over exactly 3
times before rolling into a tree branch at the water's edge. Upon hitting the branch, the barrel is
knocked up and into the air, at what appears to be a 45 degree angle. It flies through the air for about 2
seconds before landing in the water. After it is in the water for a few moments, you notice that the
barrel is floating right side up with about half of it above the surface. To your astonishment, a small
aquatic creature, the likes of which you have never seen, begins to play with the barrel. Following one
particularly strong nudge to the barrel, which leaves the barrel bobbing up and down in the water, the
creature is scared away by shouts from other tourists. After recording that the barrel bobs up and down
once every 2.4 seconds you walk along the road to further investigate what you have just witnessed.
Your investigation reveals that the mass of the spare lid is 6.8 kg, the road is 14m above the shore, and
that distance from the bottom of the slope to the water's edge is 5.4m.
Now, you have enough information to answer a very important question, namely, was there any
whiskey in the barrel and, if so, how much?

What is your approach to the problem?
 
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