Question

A 1400.0 kg car crests a 3200.0 m pass in the mountains and briefly comes to rest. The car descends 1000 m before climbing and cresting a 2800 m pass. (a) Neglecting friction, what should the speed of the car be at the top of the second pass? (b) Find the actual speed of the car if the work due to nonconservative forces is – 5 x106 J.

Answer 1

a) v = 88.54 m/s

b) vf = 26.4 m/s

Step-by-step explanation:

Given that;

m = 1400.0 kg

a)

by using the energy conservation

loss in potential energy is equal to gain in kinetic energy

mg × ( 3200-2800) = 1/2 ×m×v²

so

1400 × 9.8 × 400 = 0.5 × 1400 × v²

5488000 = 700v²

v² = 5488000 / 700

v² = 7840

v = √7840

v = 88.54 m/s

b)

Work done by all forces is equal to change in KE

W_gravity + W_non - conservative = 1/2×m×(vf² - vi²)

we substitute

1400 × 9.8 × ( 3200-2800) - (5 × 10⁶) = 1/2 × 1400 × (vf² -0 )

488000 = 700 vf²

vf² = 488000 / 700

vf² = 697.1428

vf = √697.1428

vf = 26.4 m/s