How Does Nonconservative Work Affect a Child's Speed on a Slide?

[dndisilvio]

The question I have difficulty with is:
At a playground, a 19 child plays on a slide that drops through a height of 2.5 . The child starts at rest at the top of the slide. On the way down, the slide does a nonconservative work of -366 on the child. What is the child's speed at the bottom of the slide?

I know how to do the problem... The only thing that is throwing me off is the "nonconservative force." Can someone explain what that is and how to utilize it? Do I just subtract that from the total work done? thanks!

 

[gneill]

The question I have difficulty with is:
At a playground, a 19 child plays on a slide that drops through a height of 2.5 . The child starts at rest at the top of the slide. On the way down, the slide does a nonconservative work of -366 on the child. What is the child's speed at the bottom of the slide?

I know how to do the problem... The only thing that is throwing me off is the "nonconservative force." Can someone explain what that is and how to utilize it? Do I just subtract that from the total work done? thanks!

"Nonconservative work" is work that results unrecoverable energy loss from the system. In this case it would likely be energy lost as heat due to friction.