Question

A 22.0. kg child descends a slide 2.50 m high and reaches the bottom with a speed of 1.25 m/s.

Part A
How much thermal energy dise to friction was generated in this process?

Answer 1

The thermal energy due to friction generated as the child slides down the slide is calculated by subtracting the kinetic energy at the bottom from the potential energy at the top. The thermal energy is found to be 522.36 joules.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question involves calculating the thermal energy due to friction that was generated as a child slides down a slide. The problem can be solved using the conservation of energy principle, whereby the potential energy at the top of the slide is converted into kinetic energy and thermal energy due to friction at the bottom.

To find the thermal energy generated due to friction, we first calculate the potential energy (PE) at the top of the slide using the equation:

• PE = mgh

Where:

• m is the mass of the child (22.0 kg),
• g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.81 m/s2), and
• h is the height of the slide (2.50 m).

Then, we calculate the kinetic energy (KE) at the bottom of the slide using the equation:

• KE = 0.5 * m * v2

Where:

• v is the final velocity of the child (1.25 m/s).

The thermal energy due to friction (Efriction) can be calculated by the difference between the initial potential energy and the final kinetic energy:

• Efriction = PE - KE

Lets perform the calculations:

• PE = 22.0 * 9.81 * 2.50 = 539.55 J
• KE = 0.5 * 22.0 * 1.252 = 17.19 J
• Efriction = 539.55 - 17.19 = 522.36 J

Therefore, the thermal energy due to friction that was generated in the process is 522.36 joules.