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A toy car is traveling down a small ramp. While it is at a height of 0.4 m, it is traveling down the ramp at 2.2 m/s (ignore friction and air resistance, and assume that the bottom of the ramp has a height of 0 m). What is the total mechanical energy of the toy car at the initial height?

A. 0.0 J
B. 0.88 J
C. 1.76 J
D. 2.64 J

User Victtim
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Final answer:

Without knowing the mass of the toy car, we cannot calculate its total mechanical energy at the initial height of 0.4 m. The mass is essential for determining both kinetic and potential energy, which are needed to find the total mechanical energy.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the total mechanical energy of the toy car at the initial height of 0.4 m (when it is traveling at 2.2 m/s, ignoring friction and air resistance), we need to sum its kinetic and potential energies.

The kinetic energy (KE) is given by the formula KE = (1/2)mv², where m is the mass of the toy car and v is its velocity. The potential energy (PE) at a height h is given by PE = mgh, where g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s²). Assuming the mass of the car is given in kilograms, the total mechanical energy (E_total) would then be E_total = KE + PE.

Without the mass of the toy car, we cannot calculate the exact energy values, as the mass is a critical component of both kinetic and potential energy equations. Therefore, based on the information provided, we cannot select any of the answer options (A, B, C, D) confidently.

User Crackerjack
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