Question

A crate is propelled up a hill by a tightly coiled spring. Analyze this situation for a frictionless system that includes the spring, the hill, the crate, and the earth.

a. Friction increases the efficiency of the system.
b. Friction has no effect on the system.
c. The system is not affected by the hill.
d. Friction decreases the efficiency of the system.

Answer 1

Friction has no effect on the system because the system is frictionless.

Step-by-step explanation:

Friction has no effect on the system. In a frictionless system, the only force acting on the crate as it moves up the hill is the force exerted by the tightly coiled spring. Friction would only come into play if there was contact between the crate and the hill, but since the system is frictionless, it does not affect the motion of the crate. Therefore, option b is correct.