Final answer:
This Physics question from High School level about the work-energy principle involves finding the distance a baseball player slides on the ground, given the initial speed and coefficient of friction. The frictional force is found by multiplying the coefficient of friction by the normal force, then this force is used to calculate the work done, which is set equal to the initial kinetic energy to solve for the distance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject of this question is Physics and it pertains to the domain of mechanics, specifically the concept of friction and energy conservation. When the baseball player dives into third base with a speed of 7.90 m/s, and the coefficient of friction between the player and the ground is 0.41, we have to calculate the distance the player slides before coming to rest.
To solve this, we'll use the work-energy principle wherein the work done by the force of friction is equal to the change in the player's kinetic energy. The frictional force can be found by multiplying the coefficient of friction by the normal force, which in this case is equal to the weight of the player assuming a horizontal surface (normal force = mass × gravity).
The work done by friction (which is a force multiplied by the displacement in the direction of the force) is negative because it's opposing the motion. This must equal the initial kinetic energy (1/2 mv²) the player had. We'll set up the equation as follows: Frictional force × displacement = -1/2 mv². From this, we can solve for the displacement (distance) d.
By following these steps, you should be able to calculate the exact distance the baseball player slides before coming to a rest.