Question

Three balls with the same initial velocity move down frictionless tracks A, B, and C, as shown below. Rank the final speeds of the balls from highest to lowest speeds.

A) C > B > A
B) A > B > C
C) A = B = C
D) C = B > A

Answer 1

The final speeds of the balls are equal (A = B = C) due to the conservation of mechanical energy in a system with no friction.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question relates to the conservation of mechanical energy and the final speeds of balls moving down frictionless tracks. Given that the balls have the same initial velocity and the tracks are frictionless, conservation of energy principles state that the mechanical energy (potential + kinetic) will be conserved.

This means that the final kinetic energy (and thus final speed) of each ball will be the same since all balls will have converted their entire potential energy into kinetic energy by the time they reach the bottom of their respective tracks.

Therefore, the correct answer is C) A = B = C, indicating that the final speeds of the balls are equal regardless of the path they take down frictionless tracks.