Solving a Work/Energy Physics Problem: Troubleshooting and Solution

[Jason03]

Im having some trouble with this problem

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/guitaristx/kjh.jpg


Heres my work

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/guitaristx/Scan10023.jpg


Im not sure if I have the equ. set up correctly...

 

[alphysicist]

Hi Jason03,

The term you have for the gravitational energy is not correct. Do you see why?

(I think you might also want to recalculate the frictional work term.)

 

[Jason03]

For gravitational energy do you mean the mgh on the right side of the equation?...I have mgx which could be a problem but I am not sure.



And for frictional work U 1-2 = -Friction*distance

so I did Kinetic Friction * Normal Force * distance x

 

[CompuChip]

For gravitational energy do you mean the mgh on the right side of the equation?...I have mgx which could be a problem but I am not sure.

What is the h in that equation, and what does the x you have represent? How can you write h in terms of x?

 

[Jason03]

i just did h = x sin 25 and I came up with x = 2.3 and the book has x = 2.28

so now i have to figure the velocity and total frictional work

 

[Jason03]

got it all figured out...thanks for the help!