Question

Runaway truck ramps are common on mountainous highways in case the brakes fail on large trucks. If a

Answer 1

Answer:

$W=-21,870,000\ J$

Explanation:

Work and Kinetic Energy

The work an object does due to its motion is equal to the change of its kinetic energy. Being ko and k1 the initial and final kinetic energy respectively and m the mass of the object, then

$W=\Delta k=k_1-k_0$

Since

$\displaystyle k=\frac{mv^2}{2}$

We have

$\displaystyle W=\frac{mv_1^2}{2}-\frac{mv_0^2}{2}$

The truck has a mass of 60,000 kg and is moving at 27 m/s. The runaway truck ramp must stop the truck, so the final speed is 0. Thus

$\displaystyle W=\frac{(60,000)0^2}{2}-\frac{(60,000)(27)^2}{2}$

$W=0-21870000\ J$

$\boxed{W=-21,870,000\ J}$