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Ch 09: Work and Kinetic Energy
Chapter 9, Problem 10

A 1500 kg car traveling at 10 m/s suddenly runs out of gas while approaching the valley shown in FIGURE EX10.11. The alert driver immediately puts the car in neutral so that it will roll. What will be the car's speed as it coasts into the gas station on the other side of the valley? Ignore rolling friction.

Verified step by step guidance
1
Identify the initial kinetic energy of the car using the formula for kinetic energy, KE = \frac{1}{2}mv^2, where m is the mass of the car and v is its initial velocity.
Assume that the potential energy change as the car moves through the valley is negligible, or that any potential energy lost when going down is gained back when going up, keeping the total mechanical energy constant.
Since there is no external work done on the system (ignoring rolling friction and other resistive forces), the total mechanical energy of the car is conserved. Therefore, the kinetic energy at the bottom of the valley is equal to the kinetic energy at the top on the other side.
Set the final kinetic energy equal to the initial kinetic energy calculated in step 1, and solve for the final velocity v_f using the formula KE_f = \frac{1}{2}mv_f^2.
Conclude that the final speed of the car as it coasts into the gas station will be the same as its initial speed, since the total mechanical energy is conserved and there are no non-conservative forces doing work on the car.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Conservation of Energy

The principle of conservation of energy states that in a closed system, the total energy remains constant. In this scenario, the car's initial kinetic energy will convert into potential energy as it ascends the valley and then back into kinetic energy as it descends. This concept is crucial for determining the car's speed at different points in its motion.
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Kinetic Energy

Kinetic energy is the energy an object possesses due to its motion, calculated using the formula KE = 1/2 mv², where m is mass and v is velocity. In this problem, the car's initial kinetic energy will be a key factor in understanding how its speed changes as it moves through the valley, especially as it coasts without any additional forces acting on it.
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Potential Energy

Potential energy is the stored energy of an object due to its position in a gravitational field, calculated using the formula PE = mgh, where m is mass, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is height. As the car travels up the valley, it gains potential energy, which will later convert back to kinetic energy as it descends, affecting its speed when it reaches the gas station.
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