Chapter 2, Problem 1TE

Galileo found that a ball rolling down one incline will pick up enough speed to rollupanother. How high will it roll compared with its initial height?

To determine

The height of ball, as it rolls up another incline.

Answer to Problem 1TE

The ball will roll up to the same height from which it was released.

Explanation of Solution

According to Galileo, force is required to move the object at starting, but once it starts moving, no force is required to keep that object moving except that force needed to overcome friction. The speed of the ball will increase as it rolls down the inclined plane, due to gravity, and speed of ball decrease as it roll up the inclined plane.

When a ball is released from an inclined plane, and it is considered that friction between the ball and surface is absent. Then the ball will attain enough speed so that it can roll up another inclined plane, as high as its initial height. This is due to the phenomenon of inertia, which is the property of things to remain in the existing state.

Conclusion:

Therefore, the ball will roll up to the same height from which it was released.