Question

Q8

Two solid spheres of equal radius and equal mass start at rest at the same height and move to the bottom of two different curved ramps in two different ways.

In the first case (i), depicted in the left figure above, the ramp has no friction so the sphere slides without rotating. In the second case (ii), depicted in the right figure above, the sphere rolls without slipping down the ramp.
In which case will the sphere have more translational kinetic energy when it reaches the bottom of the ramp?
a) Case (i)
b) Case (ii)
c) The translational kinetic energy at the bottom will be the same in both case (i) and case (ii).
d) More information is needed to determine which will have the greatest translational kinetic energy at the bottom.

a) Explain how energy was transferred to/from or within your chosen system for the two cases described in this problem. b) How did you incorporate the fact that gravity was a conservative force?

Answer 1