Why Does My Calculation of Kinetic Energy Yield a Negative Result?

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SUMMARY

The calculation of kinetic energy for a block falling from a height of 45 cm to 15 cm yielded a negative result due to an error in calculating the friction energy. The correct formula for kinetic energy (EK) is EK = ET - EP - EF, where ET is total energy, EP is potential energy, and EF is friction energy. The user incorrectly used force instead of energy in the friction term, leading to an erroneous calculation of -2.4 instead of the expected 1.47.

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Hello,
http://fm92-1.com/physics.jpg"
The initial speed is 0 m/s
We let go of the rope
What is the system's kinetic energy when the little block is at 15 cm from the ground?

What's wrong with my work?
E_{t}=E_{P}+E_{F}+E_{K}\Rightarrow E_{K}=E_{t}-E_{P}-E_{F}
where Et is total energy, Ep is potential energy, Ef is friction energy and Ek is kinetic energy.

E_{K}=0.75*9.81*0.45-0.75*9.81*0.15-0.1*2.5*9.81=-2.4
The answer is 1.47, but i get -2.4
What to do?
Thank you
 
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Your last term, energy lost due to friction, is calculated wrong. Friction energy is force times distance. What you have is force. You need to multiply it by a distance (how far the block moves) to get energy.

I don't know if you get the right answer, but that's one thing that's wrong that I could find.
 

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