Question

Can someone confirm if I am right or not for the questions below? And if I am not, could you please explain why?

A sliding block and a rolling disk of equal mass are released from rest from the top of a ramp.
They “race” each other down. Let’s figure out which object, if either, is moving faster at the bottom.

• 1. What’s your initial guess about which object has more speed at the bottom? Explain.
• I believe they have the same speed because they both have the same mass, initial velocity and start at the same height.
  2. Now we’ll help you think through this problem in terms of energy.
     1. Which object, if either, has more gravitational potential energy at the top of the ramp? Why?

I believe they have the same PE because like I said in A, they have the same mass, initial velocity, and start at the same height.

2. So, which object, if either, has more total kinetic energy at the bottom? Explain.

I believe they also have the same KE.

3. Using those insights about energy, figure out which object, if either, has more speed at the bottom. Reconcile with your part A answer, if needed.

Answer 1

The answer is in the images. Page number is mentioned at right top. Here I made a detailed explanation, which will clear all your question here.