Mass on Incline: Kinetic & Potential Energy

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Homework Statement


Attached

Homework Equations


kinetic energy = (1/2) m v^2
potential energy = mgh

The Attempt at a Solution


Did I do this correctly,

At the top, kinetic energy is 0 since it starts at rest. At the bottom we choose the potential to be zero
So using conservation,
[tex]mgz= \frac{1}{2}m\vec{v_f}^2[/tex]
Then, substitute [tex]z=s(t)sin\theta[/tex],
And [tex]\vec{v_f} = \vec{a}t[/tex]
where [tex]\vec{a} = \frac{\vec{F}}{m} = \frac{mgsin\theta}{m} = gsin\theta[/tex]

To get [tex]mgs(t)sin\theta = \frac{1}{2}m(gtsin\theta)^2[/tex]
solve for [tex]s(t) = \frac{gt^2sin\theta}{2}[/tex]
 

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Looks correct to me! You can verify it by putting θ=90° and θ=0°. When θ=90°, it's a free fall, so, s(t)=½gt2, the 2nd kinematical equation with u=0. With θ=0, the body will not move at all, so, s=0.