Physics I Workbook For Dummies with Online Practice
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When objects slide (frictionlessly) down a ramp, they’re acted on by a force, which means that they’re accelerated and therefore their speed changes. The equation to use in physics problems like these is

vf2vo2 = 2as

Finding the object’s final speed under these circumstances is easy when you remember that

image0.png

s is the length of the ramp, and vo is usually 0.

Sample question

  1. Say you have a block of ice on a ramp at 20 degrees, and it slides down a ramp of 5.0 meters. What is its final speed at the bottom of the ramp?

    The correct answer is 5.8 m/s.

    1. The force along the ramp is

      image1.png
    2. The acceleration of the ice is

      image2.png
    3. Use the equation

      image3.png

      Plug in the numbers: vf2 = 34, which means vf = 5.8 m/s.

Practice questions

  1. Starting from rest, you go down a 100 m ski jump of 60 degrees. What is your speed at takeoff?

  2. You’re heading down a toboggan run of 1 km at an angle of 18 degrees. What is your final speed?

  3. You have a block of ice on a ramp with an angle of 23 degrees when it slips away from you. What is its speed at the bottom of the 6.0 m ramp?

  4. A cart starts at the top of a 50-m slope at an angle 38 degrees. What is the cart’s speed at the bottom?

Following are answers to the practice questions:

  1. 40 m/s

    1. The force along the ramp is

      image4.png
    2. Your acceleration is

      image5.png
    3. Use the equation

      image6.png
    4. Solving for vf = 41 m/s. Round to 40 m/s to account for significant figures.

  2. 80 m/s

    1. The force along the ramp is

      image7.png
    2. Your acceleration is

      image8.png
    3. Use the equation

      image9.png
    4. Solving for vf = 78 m/s. Round to 80 m/s to account for significant figures.

  3. 6.8 m/s

    1. The force along the ramp is

      image10.png
    2. The block of ice’s acceleration is

      image11.png
    3. Use the equation

      image12.png
    4. Solving for vf = 6.8 m/s.

  4. 25 m/s

    1. The force along the ramp is

      image13.png
    2. The cart’s acceleration is

      image14.png
    3. Use the equation

      image15.png
    4. Solving for vf = 25 m/s.

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