Investigating the Kinetics of a Steel Ball Rolling on a Level Surface

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on calculating the kinetic energy and force related to a steel ball rolling on a level surface, with a mass of 4 kg and a speed of 62 m/s. The kinetic energy is calculated correctly, while the method for finding the force applied to accelerate the ball is debated, with confusion over gravitational potential energy and weight. In a separate question about a train powered by a jet engine, participants discuss how to find work done, change in kinetic energy, and final speed, clarifying that initial kinetic energy is zero and that work equals final kinetic energy. The final speed can be derived from the work done using kinetic energy formulas. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding the relationships between work, energy, and force in physics.
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A steel ball has a mass of 4 kg and rolls along a smooth level surface at 62 m/s.

a) Find its kinetic energy ( i found this.. )

b) At first, the ball was at rest on the surface. A constant force acted on it through a distance of 22 m to give it the speed of 62 m/s. What was the magnitude of the force?

so here's my thought process:

.5 mv^2 + mgh = .5mv^2 + mgh
0 = .5mv^2+mgh
-.5mv^2=mgh
mg=- .5mv^2/h
mg= - .5 x 4 x 62^2/22
mg= -350 N


is the above method correct?

Q2) In the 1950's, an experimental train that had a mass of 2.50x10^4 was powered across a level track by a jet engine that produced a thrust of 5x10^5 N for adistance of 509 m.

a) Find the work done on the train. ( found this to be 2.545E8)
b) Find the change in kinetic energy. ( 2.545E8)
c) Find the final kinetic energy of the train if it started from rest. ( how do i find this?? .5 mv^2 won't wrk since i don't know waht the velocity is )
d) find the final speed of the train if there were no friction ( how do i find this?? )

thanks much
 
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On your b) you should have used

\sum_{i=1}^{n} W_{i} = \Delta K
 
Cyclovenom said:
On your b) you should have used

\sum_{i=1}^{n} W_{i} = \Delta K

so ur saying i would use W= delta K = fd?

but i'd still get the same answer of 350 N...
 
Yes, but i don't know where you got Potential Gravitational energy, the problem doesn't refers to a not leveled surface, plus there's inconsistency, because you got mg = -350N when that is weight, and the weight of the object is about 39.2 N.
 
is the magnitude of force = 1.69 x 10^5 n??

thanks
 
jai6638 said:
Q2) In the 1950's, an experimental train that had a mass of 2.50x10^4 was powered across a level track by a jet engine that produced a thrust of 5x10^5 N for adistance of 509 m.

a) Find the work done on the train. ( found this to be 2.545E8)
b) Find the change in kinetic energy. ( 2.545E8)
c) Find the final kinetic energy of the train if it started from rest. ( how do i find this?? .5 mv^2 won't wrk since i don't know waht the velocity is )
d) find the final speed of the train if there were no friction ( how do i find this?? )

thanks much

c) that's easy - it just means that KEi = 0 .. when KEi = 0, KEf = Work!
d) well then .5v^2 = work and then u can find v :-p
 
futb0l said:
c) that's easy - it just means that KEi = 0 .. when KEi = 0, KEf = Work!
d) well then .5v^2 = work and then u can find v :-p

so c= 2.545 x 10^8 right?
 
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