Calculating Average Kinetic Energy of a Running Boy

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on calculating the average kinetic energy of a 60 kg boy running up a slope in 5 seconds. Participants express confusion about determining average kinetic energy without knowing the boy's speed. It is clarified that average kinetic energy relates to average velocity, which can be derived from the distance traveled, calculated using the Pythagorean theorem. The average speed is found to be 1 m/s, leading to a kinetic energy calculation of 30 Joules. The problem is noted as potentially ill-posed due to its assumptions about constant speed.
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Homework Statement



A boy of 60 kgtakes 5 s to run up the slope in the diagram. (Please refer to the attachment) What is his average kinetic energy?

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



I don't know the meaning of 'average' kinetic energy. Is this mean kinetic energy per unit time (per second)? How can I calculate it without knowing the velocity of the boy?
 

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His average kinetic energy is the energy corresponding to his average speed
 
How can I know the kinetic energy of the boy without knowing the speed?
My stupid thought was that to use the increase in gravitational potential energy of the boy but I can't get the answer. Why?
 
KE=1/2mv^2

average kintetic energy would come from his average velocity. notice how the distance he went is expressed as a right triangle

WARNING: ANSWER BELOW
try not to look at the answer if you can solve it yourself. i made it white so you must high light it and not see it 'on accident'





[pythagorean theorum tells us the distance he ran was 5 meters and we're given he ran it in 5 seconds, so average velocity is 1 m/s. 1^2 is still 1, and m is 60 so divide it by two and you get 30 N]
 
lingling said:
How can I know the kinetic energy of the boy without knowing the speed?
Assume that he runs up at a constant speed. (Since KE is proportional to speed squared, I think this is an ill-posed problem.)
 
Kindly see the attached pdf. My attempt to solve it, is in it. I'm wondering if my solution is right. My idea is this: At any point of time, the ball may be assumed to be at an incline which is at an angle of θ(kindly see both the pics in the pdf file). The value of θ will continuously change and so will the value of friction. I'm not able to figure out, why my solution is wrong, if it is wrong .
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