1. A block of mass m = 10.0 kg is released with a speed v from a frictionless incline at height 7.00 m. The block reaches the horizontal ground and then slides up another frictionless incline as shown in Fig. 1.1. If the
horizontal surface is also frictionless and the maximum height that the block can slide up to is 26.0 m, (a) what
is the speed v of the block equal to when it is released and (b) what is the speed of the block when it reaches
the horizontal ground? If a portion of length 1 2.00 m on the horizontal surface is frictional with coefficient
of kinetic friction uk = 0.500 (Fig. 1.2) and the block is released at the same height 7.00 m with the same
speed v determined in (a), (c) what is the maximum height that the block can reach, (d) what is the speed of the
block at half of the maximum height, and (e) how many times will the block cross the frictional region before
it stops completely?
1 = 2.00 m (frictional region)

Let A be the position of the block at the top of the first incline; B its position at the bottom of the first incline; C its position at the bottom of the second incline; and D its position at the top of the second incline. I'll denote the energy of the block at a given point by E (point).

At point A, the block has total energy

E (A) = (10.0 kg) (9.80 m/s²) (7.00 m) + 1/2 (10.0 kg) v₀²

E (A) = 686 J + 1/2 (10.0 kg) v₀²

At point B, the block's potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, so that its total energy is

E (B) = 1/2 (10.0 kg) v₁²

The block then slides over the horizontal surface with constant speed v₁ until it reaches point C and slides up a maximum height of 26.0 m to point D. Its total energy at D is purely potential energy,

E (D) = (10.0 kg) (9.80 m/s²) (26.0 m) = 2548 J

Throughout this whole process, energy is conserved, so

E (A) = E (B) = E (C) = E (D)

(a) Solve for v₀ :

686 J + 1/2 (10.0 kg) v₀² = 2548 J

==>   v₀ ≈ 19.3 m/s

(b) Solve for v₁ :

1/2 (10.0 kg) v₁² = 2548 J

==>   v₁ ≈ 22.6 m/s

Now if the horizontal surface is not frictionless, kinetic friction will contribute some negative work to slow down the block between points C and D. Check the net forces acting on the block over this region:

• net horizontal force:

∑ F = -f = ma

• net vertical force:

∑ F = n - mg = 0

where f is the magnitude of kinetic friction, a is the block's acceleration, n is the mag. of the normal force, and mg is the block's weight. Solve for a :

n = mg = (10.0 kg) (9.80 m/s²) = 98.0 N

f = µn = 0.500 (98.0 N) = 49.0 N

==>   - (49.0 N) = (10.0 kg) a

==>   a = - 4.90 m/s²

The block decelerates uniformly over a distance 2.00 m and slows down to a speed v₂ such that

v₂² - v₁² = 2 (-4.90 m/s²) (2.00 m)

==>   v₂² = 490 m²/s²

and thus the block has total/kinetic energy

E (C) = 1/2 (10.0 kg) v₂² = 2450 J

(c) The block then slides a height h up the frictionless incline to D, where its kinetic energy is again converted to potential energy. With no friction, E (C) = E (D), so

2450 J = (10.0 kg) (9.80 m/s²) h

==>   h = 25.0 m

(d) At half the maximum height, the block has speed v₃ such that

2450 J = (10.0 kg) (9.80 m/s²) (h/2) + 1/2 (10.0 kg) v₃²

==>   v₃ ≈ 15.7 m/s

The block loses speed and thus energy as it moves between B and C, but its energy is conserved elsewhere. If we ignore the inclines and pretend that the block is sliding over a long horizontal surface, then its velocity v at time t is given by

v = v₁ + at = 22.6 m/s - (4.90 m/s²) t

The block comes to a rest when v = 0 :

0 = 22.6 m/s - (4.90 m/s²) t

==>   t ≈ 4.61 s

It covers a distance x after time t of

x = v₁t + 1/2 at ²

so when it comes to a complete stop, it will have moved a distance of

x = (22.6 m/s) (4.61 s) + 1/2 (-4.90 m/s²) (4.61 s)² = 52.0 m

(e) The block crosses the rough region

(52.0 m) / (2.00 m) = 26 times

see earlier