A skier walks from the bottom of a ski slope to the top and gains 10000J of gravitational potential
energy.
She skis down the slope. At the bottom of the slope, her kinetic energy is 2000J.
How much energy is dissipated in overcoming friction and air resistance as the skier moves down
the slope?
Answers
Answer:
Energy = 10000J - 2000J = 8000J
Therefore, the energy is dissipated the skier moves down to the slope is 8000J
The amount of energy dissipated in overcoming friction and air resistance is 8000 J.
It is given that the potential energy at the top of the slope is 10000J
Now as she skis down the slope some energy is lost in overcoming friction and air resistance while some energy is converted into kinetic energy with the increase in velocity.
To find the energy lost we will use the conservation of energy theorem. We will assume the net energy to be 10000J and some of it is converted into kinetic energy while the remaining is lost.
The amount of energy converted into kinetic energy is given as 2000J
Total energy = Kinetic energy + Energy lost
10000J = 2000J + Energy lost
Energy lost = 8000 J
Therefore the energy dissipated in overcoming friction and air resistance is 8000J.