3.) In a railroad "classification yard", rail cars are sent down "humps", and a
"retarder" slows the cars down to the proper speed for it to connect with other
cars. The rail car has a mass of m and an initial speed of $v_o$ at the top of the
hump. The height of the hump is h and the retarder has a length of L.
$v_o$
h
retarder
L
$v_f$
a.) Retarders are known for being extremely loud, requiring sound protection
for anyone nearby. The lost mechanical energy is all converted to sound
energy and heat. How much energy became sound energy and heat? Use
the given variables in your answer (m, $v_o$, $v_f$, h, g, L).
b.) The desired final speed of the car is $v_f$ In terms of the given quantities (m,
$v_o$, $v_f$, h, g, L), what is the average force F that the retarder must exert on
the car's wheels.