A child of mass 15 kg climbs to the top of a slide that is 1.7 m above a horizontal run that ext

step 1 In this question, the mass of child is given as M is equal to 15 KG. The initial height is H equ

A child of mass 15 kg climbs to the top of a slide that is...

A child of mass $15 \mathrm{kg}$ climbs to the top of a slide that is $1.7 \mathrm{m}$ above a horizontal run that extends for $0.50 \mathrm{m}$ at the base of the slide. After sliding down, the child comes to rest just before reaching the very end of the horizontal portion of the slide. (a) How much internal energy was generated during this process? (b) Where did the generated energy go? (To the slide, to the child, to the air, or to all three?)

Key Concepts

Internal Energy

Internal energy in this context is the energy associated with the microscopic motion and interactions within a body, which often manifests as heat. When the child slides down and friction is present, some of the gravitational potential energy is transformed into internal energy rather than remaining as kinetic energy. This energy conversion results in the slowing down of the child and is distributed among the slide, the child, and the surrounding air.

Friction and Non-Conservative Forces

Friction is a non-conservative force that converts mechanical energy, such as kinetic or potential energy, into thermal energy or internal energy, which is often dissipated as heat. In the scenario of the child sliding down, friction between the slide and the child does work that reduces the mechanical energy of the child, leading to an increase in internal energy.

Gravitational Potential Energy

This concept refers to the energy an object has due to its position in a gravitational field. For a given mass at a certain height above a reference level, gravitational potential energy is calculated as the product of mass, gravitational acceleration, and height. This energy is available to be converted into other forms of energy when the object moves, and in this context, it is the energy released when the child slides down from the top of the slide.

Energy Conservation

Energy conservation is the principle stating that energy cannot be created or destroyed but only transformed from one type to another. In the problem, the change in gravitational potential energy as the child descends is converted into other forms of energy, including kinetic energy and internal energy due to friction. Recognizing energy conservation allows us to account for all energy transformations within the system.

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