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).
Related questions
In an elastic collision of two bodies, what is conserved?Work and energy are measured in the same:The dimensions of power are:Which theorem links the work done with the change in kinetic energy?The scalar product of two vectors gives a:In an inelastic collision, the final kinetic energy is:The unit of potential energy is the same as that of:A force from which a potential energy can be derived is called: