A2L Item 143
- Description: Compare the speed of a block falling vertically to that of one sliding down a smooth incline.
- Goal: Reasoning with energy
- Source: UMPERG-ctqpe62
- Keywords: Conservation, Energy, Mechanics, Velocity
The question for students:
Two
identical blocks fall a distance H. One falls directly down, the other
slides down a frictionless incline. Which has the largest speed at the
bottom?
- The one falling vertically
- The one on the incline
- Both have the same speed
- Cannot be determined
Commentary for teachers:
Answer
(3) The only force doing work is gravity and both block undergo the same vertical displacement.