Question

Aladdin sits on a magic carpet at the top of a large dune. Aladdin weighs 540N, the carpet weighs 60 N.
a) Jasmin is giving the carpet a push with a speed of 2 m/s. Not including Jasmin, what is the initial kinetic energy?
b) Right after the push, what is Aladdin and the carpet’s initial potential energy, relative to the bottom of the dune, if the height of the dune is 20m?
c) Right after the push, what is the total mechanical energy?
d) If the genie magically made the sand frictionless, what would be the kinetic energy at the bottom of the dune?
e) If the genie weren’t there, the friction from the sand would cost Aladdin on his carpet 4000 J by the time he made it to half the dune’s height. What would be the kinetic energy at the half-height?

Answer 1