Question

Use the work—energy theorem to solve each of these problems. You can use Newton's laws to check your answers. Neglect air resistance in all cases. (a) A branch falls from the top of a 95.0-m-tall redwood tree, starting from rest. How fast is it moving when it reaches the ground? (b) A volcano ejects a boulder directly upward 525 m into the air. How fast was the boulder mov-ing just as it left the volcano?

Answer 1

Answer:

a) It is moving at $43.15\frac{m}{s^{2}}$ when reaches the ground.

b) It is moving at $101.44\frac{m}{s^{2}}$ when reaches the ground.

Explanation:

Work energy theorem states that the total work on a body is equal its change in kinetic energy, this is:

$W=K_f-K_i$ (1)

with W the total work, Ki the initial kinetic energy and Kf the final kinetic energy. Kinetic energy is defined as:

$K=\frac{mv^2}{2}$ (2)

with m the mass and v the velocity.

Using (2) on (1):

$W=\frac{mv_f^2}{2}-\frac{mv_i^2}{2}$ (3)

In both cases the total work while the objects are in the air is the work gravity field does on them. Work is force times the displacement, so in our case is weight (w=mg) of the object times displacement (d):

$W=Fd=wd=mgd$ (4)

Using (4) on (3):

$mgd=\frac{mv_f^2}{2}-\frac{mv_i^2}{2}$ (5)

That's the equation we're going to use on a) and b).

a) Because the branch started form rest initial velocity (vi) is equal zero, using this and solving (5) for final velocity:

$v_f=\sqrt{\frac{2mgd}{m}}=\sqrt{2gd}=\sqrt{2*9.8*95}$

$v_f=43.15\frac{m}{s^{2}}$

b) In this case the final velocity of the boulder is instantly zero when it reaches its maximum height, another important thing to note is that in this case work is negative because weight is opposing boulder movement, so we should use -mgd:

$-mgd=-\frac{mv_i^2}{2}$

Solving for initial velocity (when the boulder left the volcano):

$v_i=\sqrt{\frac{2mgd}{m}}=\sqrt{2gd}=\sqrt{2*9.8*525}$

$v_i=101.44 \frac{m}{s^{2}}$