Mechanical energy Transitional Reasoning Practice
10 Physics practice questions on Mechanical energy. Questions that build towards applied reasoning.
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Questions
- 1.
A 4.0 kg test cart moves along a horizontal track with an initial kinetic energy of 120 J and enters a ramp inclined at 30° to the horizontal. As the cart travels 6.0 m along the ramp, an electric motor exerts a constant propulsion force of 25 N up the incline while a constant friction force of 5.0 N opposes its motion. Taking the acceleration due to gravity as 10 m/s² and setting the gravitational potential energy to zero at the horizontal track, what is the total mechanical energy of the cart at the end of this 6.0 m section?
- 2.
A laboratory apparatus drops a 2.0 kg metal sphere from rest from a position 1.2 m directly above the top of an uncompressed, vertical ideal spring fixed to the floor. The sphere strikes the spring and compresses it by a maximum distance of 0.20 m before momentarily coming to rest. Assuming air resistance is negligible and taking the acceleration due to gravity as 10 m/s², what is the force constant of the spring?
- 3.
A postal facility uses a curved slide to transfer parcels between levels. A 2.0 kg parcel enters the top of the slide at a height of 4.0 m above the floor with an initial speed of 3.0 m/s. During the descent to floor level, friction between the parcel and the slide converts 25 J of mechanical energy into thermal energy. Taking the acceleration due to gravity as 10 m/s², what is the speed of the parcel when it reaches the bottom of the slide?
- 4.
A laboratory setup consists of Block A of mass 1.0 kg resting on a smooth, frictionless horizontal tabletop and Block B of mass 3.0 kg hanging vertically from a light string passing over an ideal pulley at the edge of the table. The system is held at rest with Block B at a height of 0.60 m above the floor and then released. Assuming the string does not stretch and taking the acceleration due to gravity as 10 m/s², what is the speed of Block B just before it strikes the floor?
- 5.
A ballistics research team launches a 2.0 kg test projectile from level ground with an initial speed of 20 m/s at an angle of 60° above the horizontal across an open field. Assuming air resistance is negligible and taking the acceleration due to gravity as 10 m/s², what is the gravitational potential energy of the projectile at the apex of its trajectory relative to the ground?
- 6.
An engineering team evaluates an arresting cable system designed to catch test vehicles on a horizontal, frictionless runway. A 500 kg cart traveling at an initial speed of 12 m/s engages the cable, which behaves as an ideal spring with an effective force constant of 6000 N/m. Assuming that the mechanical energy of the cart-cable system is conserved, what is the speed of the cart when the cable has stretched by 3.0 m?
- 7.
During a field test, a 0.60 kg sensor package is launched vertically upward from ground level with an initial speed of 30 m/s. Assuming air resistance is negligible and the acceleration due to gravity is 10 m/s², at what height above the ground is the kinetic energy of the package equal to twice its gravitational potential energy?
- 8.
An engineering team tests a safety descent system by lowering a 4.0 kg sensor module vertically into a shaft using a support cable. During a 20 m downward displacement, the cable exerts a constant upward tension of 30 N on the module. Assuming air resistance is negligible and taking the acceleration due to gravity as 10 m/s², how does the total mechanical energy of the sensor module change during this descent?
- 9.
A student compresses a vertical spring inside a toy launcher, storing 4.0 J of elastic potential energy. When released, the launcher fires a 0.05 kg dart straight upward, which momentarily comes to rest at a maximum height of 6.0 m above the release point. Taking the acceleration due to gravity as 10 m/s², how much mechanical energy is dissipated by air resistance during the upward flight of the dart?
- 10.
A physics student testing a frictionless track releases a 0.50 kg cart from rest at point P, which is 2.0 m above the horizontal floor. The cart moves down to floor level and then ascends a smooth curved incline to point Q, located 0.80 m above the floor. Assuming friction and air resistance are negligible and the acceleration due to gravity is 10 m/s², what is the kinetic energy of the cart at point Q?
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