A 3.6kg object slides down a a 2 meters long slide inclined at 60 degrees to the horizontal A friction force of 3Newtons acts along the way and gravity is 9.8 calculate potential energy lost?

Answer 1

The easy answer to this question is to recognize that some of the potential energy will be lost to work against friction and this loss is simply the force of friction multiplied by the length of the ramp which is 6N. The previous answers I submitted are incorrect.

Answer 2

The potential energy lost by the object as it slides down the slide can be calculated using the formula: Potential energy lost = mgh Where: m = mass of the object = 3.6 kg g = acceleration due to gravity = 9.8 m/s^2 h = vertical height the object slides down = 2 m * sin(60 degrees) ≈ 1.73 m

So, potential energy lost = 3.6 kg * 9.8 m/s^2 * 1.73 m ≈ 61.3 Joules