Question

If you slide down a rope, it's possible to create enough thermal energy to burn your hands or your legs where they grip the rope. Suppose a 30 kg child slides down a rope at a playground, descending 1.5 m at a constant speed.

Answer 1

Complete question:

If you slide down a rope, it's possible to create enough thermal energy to burn your hands or your legs where they grip the rope. Suppose a 30 kg child slides down a rope at a playground, descending 1.5 m at a constant speed. How much thermal energy is created as she slides down the rope? Assume that all potential energy can be transformed into thermal energy Express your answer with the appropriate units

Answer:

the thermal energy created as she slides down the rope is 441 J

Explanation:

Given;

mass of the child, m = 30 kg

height of the rope the child descends, h = 1.5 m

Assuming that all potential energy can be transformed into thermal energy.

Then, potential energy, PE = mgh

          potential energy, PE = 30 x 9.8 x 1.5

          potential energy, PE = 441 J

Therefore, the thermal energy created as she slides down the rope is 441 J