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

A 70 kg human sprinter can accelerate from rest to 10 m/s in 3.0 s . During the same time interval, a 30 kg greyhound can go from rest to 20 m/s . What is the average power output of each? Average power over a time interval ∆t is ∆E/∆t .

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Key Concepts

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

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 scenario, both the sprinter and the greyhound are accelerating, which means they are gaining kinetic energy as they increase their speed from rest.
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Average Power

Average power is defined as the rate at which work is done or energy is transferred over a specific time interval. It can be calculated using the formula P = ∆E/∆t, where ∆E is the change in energy and ∆t is the time interval. This concept is crucial for determining how much energy each athlete expends during their acceleration.
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Acceleration

Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity of an object with respect to time, expressed as a = (v_f - v_i)/∆t, where v_f is the final velocity, v_i is the initial velocity, and ∆t is the time taken. Understanding acceleration is essential for analyzing how quickly each athlete reaches their respective speeds and how it relates to their power output.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
A Porsche 944 Turbo has a rated engine power of 217 hp. 30% of the power is lost in the engine and the drive train, and 70% reaches the wheels. The total mass of the car and driver is 1480 kg, and two-thirds of the weight is over the drive wheels. (c) How long does it take the Porsche to reach the maximum power output?
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Textbook Question
How much work does tension do to pull the mass from the bottom of the hill (θ = 0) to the top at constant speed? To answer this question, write an expression for the work done when the mass moves through a very small distance ds while it has angle θ, replace ds with an equivalent expression involving R and dθ , then integrate.
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A 12 kg weather rocket generates a thrust of 200 N. The rocket, pointing upward, is clamped to the top of a vertical spring. The bottom of the spring, whose spring constant is 550 N/m, is anchored to the ground. (a) Initially, before the engine is ignited, the rocket sits at rest on top of the spring. How much is the spring compressed?
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A 90 kg firefighter needs to climb the stairs of a 20-m-tall building while carrying a 40 kg backpack filled with gear. How much power does he need to reach the top in 55 s?
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Textbook Question
(a) How much work does an elevator motor do to lift a 1000 kg elevator a height of 100 m? (b) How much power must the motor supply to do this in 50 s at constant speed?
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