Concept explainers
To calculate: Speed of the boulder just before it hits the ground.
Answer to Problem 58R
Speed of the boulder just before it hits the ground is
Explanation of Solution
Given:
Mass =
Height =
Formula used:
Gravitational potential energy is given by,
where
Kinetic energy is given by,
where
Calculation:
Gravitational potential energy at the top is calculated as:
When the boulder is at rest, the kinetic energy will be zero. Since mechanical energy is the sum of kinetic and potential energy in a system,
When the boulder falls, the gravitational potential energy is converted to kinetic energy. But the sum total of kinetic energy and potential energy (mechanical energy) remains the same. Just before the boulder hits the ground, the kinetic energy is greatest and gravitational potential energy is smallest. Considering that the sum remains constant, this is only possible if kinetic energy is
Speed of the boulder just before it hits the ground is calculated as:
Conclusion:
Speed of the boulder just before it hits the ground is
Chapter 4 Solutions
Glencoe Physical Science 2012 Student Edition (Glencoe Science) (McGraw-Hill Education)
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