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A 3.0-kilogram toy dump truck moving with a speed of 4.0 m/s starts up a ramp. How high does the truck roll before it stops?

User Smolda
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1 Answer

5 votes

Before it reaches the ramp, the toy's kinetic energy is

(1/2) (mass) (speed²)

= (1/2) (3 kg) (16 m²/s²)

= 24 Joules .

On the way up the ramp, its kinetic energy will change to
gravitational potential energy, and it'll stop when it's height
gives it 24 joules of potential energy.

Potential energy = (mass) (gravity) (height)

24 joules = (3 kg) (9.8 m/s²) (height)

Divide each side by 29.4 kg-m/s² (that's the same as 29.4 newtons):

Height = 24 joules / 29.4 newtons

= 0.816 meter higher than the bottom of the ramp.
User Willy Tarreau
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