Which slide will give a child the HIGHEST velocity at the bottom — a steep slide of height 5 m, or a gently inclined slide of height 5 m (assuming both are frictionless)?
ANeither — child stays at the top
BBOTH give the same final velocity, because both have the same height — energy conservation depends only on height, not on shape
CThe steeper slide (more dramatic drop)
DThe gentler slide (longer path)
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. BOTH give the same final velocity, because both have the same height — energy conservation depends only on height, not on shape
By conservation of energy: ½mv² = mgh, so v depends only on h, not on the slope. The gentler slide takes longer to reach the bottom but gives the same final speed. The path is irrelevant — only the height difference between start and end matters (when friction is absent).
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