Final answer:
The mechanical energy lost due to friction as the base runner slides to a stop is found by calculating the initial kinetic energy which is 803.335 joules; this amount of energy is what gets dissipated due to friction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks to calculate how much mechanical energy is lost due to friction as a 67 kg base runner slides to a stop while moving initially at a speed of 4.9 m/s. To find the energy lost, we need to calculate the initial kinetic energy of the runner and understand that this energy will be dissipated by the work done by friction.
The initial kinetic energy (KE) of the runner can be calculated using the formula: KE = 0.5 × mass × velocity^2. Plugging the values in, we have:
KE = 0.5 × 67 kg × (4.9 m/s)^2
KE = 0.5 × 67 kg × 24.01 m^2/s^2
KE = 803.335 J
The mechanical energy lost due to friction is equal to the initial kinetic energy because the final kinetic energy is zero when the runner stops. Hence, the mechanical energy lost is 803.335 joules.