Final answer:
Energy dissipated by friction is compared by looking at the work done by friction and its conversion to heat. A spring compression difference indicates energy loss due to friction. For a car on a hill, missing kinetic energy transformed into potential energy is attributed to friction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The energy dissipated by friction in various scenarios can be compared by considering the work done by friction and the energy converted to heat. In one example, a box sliding on a rough surface loses energy due to friction and compresses a spring less than it would on a frictionless surface, indicating energy loss. The difference in the compression distances can be used to calculate the amount of energy dissipated due to friction. In another example, a car coasting up a hill will have a certain amount of its kinetic energy converted to potential energy, with any missing energy likely dissipated as heat due to friction.
Specifically, when a box with a total energy of 50 J slides on a rough surface and only compresses a spring a distance of 15 cm compared to 25 cm on a frictionless surface, the energy lost to friction can be determined. Furthermore, analyzing a car's ascent up a hill and the energy converted to heat by friction involves examining the difference between the initial kinetic energy and the final potential energy.