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If you are rolling a car down a ramp, the speed at the top of the ramp will be (faster/slower) than the speed at the bottom. Is it faster or slower?

User Linamnt
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2 Answers

1 vote
The speed should be slower at the top of the ramp and gain speed toward the bottom of the ramp
User Pavitar Singh
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4 votes

Answer:

slower

Step-by-step explanation:

Due to the fact that it is falling, the object experiences an acceleration due to gravity, so this acceleration will make the car go faster every moment, so the speed at the top will be lower than the speed at the bottom.

The situation can also be thought of as a transaction of potential energy (energy due to the mass of an object and its position on the ground) and kinetic energy (energy due to movement). At the top is the point where the object has the greatest potential energy, and as it moves down this potential energy is exchanged for kinetic energy. The kinetic energy increases while going down the ramp, so it will have greater speed as it falls.

The answer is: the speed at the top of the ramp will be slower than the speed at the bottom.

User Vaughn Cato
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