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The ball moves without friction on an inclined plane with an angle of inclination α = 30°. How fast does the bullet move?

(A) Insufficient information provided.
(B) Speed depends on the bullet's mass.
(C) Speed remains constant regardless of inclination.
(D) Speed varies based on the angle of inclination.

User Kristan
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

The speed of the bullet on an inclined plane without friction varies based on the angle of inclination. Frictionless motion means gravity's sine component affects the acceleration, hence a steeper angle results in higher acceleration and speed. The correct answer is (D) Speed varies based on the angle of inclination.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks how fast the bullet moves on an inclined plane with an angle of 30°, assuming no friction. The correct answer to the question is (D) Speed varies based on the angle of inclination. When an object such as a ball or bullet moves down an inclined plane without friction, its acceleration is affected by the sine component of gravity acting down the slope. Therefore, a steeper angle of inclination would result in a larger component of gravitational force acting along the incline, causing greater acceleration and hence a higher speed at the bottom.

This principle is illustrated by an example involving a wagon rolling down a 10° incline, where its final speed can be determined using gravitational forces and the incline's angle. The essential concept here is that the steeper the incline, the faster the object will accelerate, assuming all other factors remain constant. This is because the force causing the acceleration (the component of the gravitational force along the plane) increases as the angle of inclination increases.

In conclusion, the speed of an object on an inclined plane will vary based on the angle of inclination, and not on the object's mass, as long as there is no friction acting on the object. Therefore, the mentioned correct option in the final answer is that we choose option (D) Speed varies based on the angle of inclination.

User Andrew Schwartz
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