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A 15kg penguin slides on its belly down an icy, frictionless glacier. If the penguin started from rest and reaches a speed of 11m/S when at the bottom, how high is the glacier? (Metres)

User Ephtron
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1 Answer

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17 votes

Answer:

Mechanical Energy (initial) = Mechanical energy (final)

Ep(initial) + Ek(initial) = Ep(final) + Ek(final)

mgh(initial) + 1/2mv²(initial) = mgh(final) + 1/2mv²(final)

m being the mass of the penguin (kg)

g being gravitational acceleration (9.80 m/s²)

v(initial) being zero

h(final) being zero,i.e. final height is zero

v(final) being final velocity

solve for h(initial) being initial height at the top of the glacier

answer will be in metres

NB: don't forget to square the velocity

Step-by-step explanation:

Since they mentioned frictionless, we know that this is a closed system therefore we are free to use this equation of conservation of mechanical energy

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User Antonio Brandao
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