Kinetic and potential energy and speed

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around kinetic and potential energy in the context of two problems: one involving an object dropped from a height and the other concerning a roller coaster car moving along a track. Participants express confusion about the concepts and calculations related to energy conservation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants attempt to understand the relationship between kinetic and potential energy, questioning how to determine when these energies are equal. They explore the concept of total energy conservation and discuss the initial conditions of the problems.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided insights into the conservation of energy and the types of energy involved, while others are still seeking clarity on specific calculations and concepts. There is an ongoing exchange of ideas, with some guidance offered on how to approach the problems.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention a lack of prior instruction on the topics, which contributes to their confusion. There are references to specific values and assumptions, such as the height from which the object is dropped and the mass of the roller coaster car, but some participants express uncertainty about these details.

  • #31
is the initial velocity=0ms-1
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #32
crpcrpcrp said:
the potential energy=mass*gravity*height
=10*10*m
=100m
Correct! So since the object is at rest before it is dropped, all the energy is in the form of potential energy. So the constant in our equation must be...
 
  • #33
0?:confused:
 
  • #34
crpcrpcrp said:
0?:confused:
If the total energy of the object must be constant then the total energy must be the same as the total energy at the start. Does that make sense?
 
  • #35
I understand
 
  • #36
Good, so now we have

2*potential energy = constant

2mgh = 20mh = 100m

20h = 100

Can you now go from here?
 
  • #37
i'm still a little confused. so what would be the constant?
 
  • #38
Hootenanny said:
Good, so now we have

2*potential energy = constant

2mgh = 20mh = 100m

20h = 100

Can you now go from here?

what do i do form here?:confused:
 
  • #39
wait...
where did u get the 100?
 
  • #40
crpcrpcrp said:
i'm still a little confused. so what would be the constant?
The constant would be the 100m as you stated yourself.
crpcrpcrp said:
what do i do form here?:confused:
You should solve for h, the height of the ball when the potential energy is equal to the kinetic energy
crpcrpcrp said:
wait...
where did u get the 100?
You derived it yourself;
crpcrpcrp said:
the potential energy=mass*gravity*height
=10*10*m
=100m
 
  • #41
at starting height you know that potential energy = constant

you know the constant is potential energy + kinetic energy.

therefore the potential energy and the kinetic energy is the same if 2*potential energy=constant

you can therefore say constant/2 = potential energy or constant/2= kinetic energy

since you get the potential energy from gravity*mass*height you can simply just isolate the height since you have te energy from the constant.

its more math than physics however. hope it helps for any looking in here
 

Similar threads

Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
5K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
2K
Replies
55
Views
6K
  • · Replies 32 ·
2
Replies
32
Views
3K
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
6K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
Replies
5
Views
9K