Question

When an object slides down a ramp with friction, the kinetic energy at the bottom of the ramp is not equal to the potential energy at the top. Why doesn’t this situation violate the law of conservation of energy?

Answer 1

Answer:

Explanation:

Law of conservation of energy states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed. Thus, in relation to the question, as the object slides down the ramp, the kinetic energy should increase at the same rate the potential energy is reducing in such a way that the kinetic energy of the object at the bottom of the ramp should be equal to the potential energy of the object at the top of the ramp (since the energy was been "transferred" as the object moved). However, this situation only occurs, as explained, in the absence of friction. In the presence of friction, some of the energy is used to overcome friction as the object moves down the ramp and as such there is an energy loss due to friction in the process which makes the kinetic energy at the bottom of the ramp not equal to the potential energy at the top. This also does not violate the law of conservation of energy since no energy was destroyed in the process (as all the energy involved can be accounted for).