How Much Work Does Friction Do to Stop a Sliding Ball?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a 1-kg ball sliding down a surface and encountering friction that brings it to rest. The context includes concepts of potential energy, kinetic energy, and work done by friction. The ball starts at a height of 8.6 meters and travels a distance of 15.8 meters before stopping.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to calculate potential energy using the formula U = mgy and questions how to proceed from there. Some participants seek clarification on the nature of the surface and the meaning of the distance provided. Others discuss the energy transformations involved, suggesting that potential energy converts to kinetic energy as the ball descends.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants exploring different interpretations of the problem setup and the physics concepts involved. Some guidance on energy conservation principles has been offered, but no consensus has been reached regarding the calculations or the specifics of the scenario.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working with assumptions about the surface being frictionless initially and then transitioning to a rough surface. There is also a lack of clarity regarding the incline of the surface and the exact nature of the distances involved.

Hughey85
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Question:

A 1-kg ball starting at h = 8.6 meters slides down a smooth surface where it encounters a rough surface and is brought to rest at B, a distance 15.8 meters away. To the nearest joule what is the work done by friction?

Can you pls. help with this question? Do you need to find the potential energy and then work from there? potential E = mgy so you could find that... U = (1 kg) * (9.81 m/s) * (8.6 m) = 84.366

but how would I work it from there?
 
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i don't understand is the surface inclined or what

what is the 15.8m supposed to be the horizontal component (if it is inclined plane)?
 
The surface is a slope that evens out at the end...like a waterslide...by a smooth surface, I believe that means "frictionless"...the 15.8 meters represents the distance when you hit the rough surface to when you stop. The rough surface starts at the "bottom of the slide" and runs along the x-axis.

I hope this isn't confusing, the picture isn't, but I can't seem to copy it over.
 
from what you just explained

dU = dK from the top of the slide to the bottom all the potential is converted to kinetic energy

mgh = 0.5 m v^2

v1 = root (2gh)

now dK = Mu Fn d

where Mu is the coefficient, Fn is the normal force, and d is the dsitnace it travelled
 

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