Two small objects move across a frictionless horizontal surface
PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Mechanics and materials · Mechanics and materials
Problem
Two small objects move across a frictionless horizontal surface.
• Object A is a solid steel sphere of mass 2.5 kg that leaves the edge of a lab table with a horizontal speed of 4.2 m s⁻¹.
• Object B is a wooden block of mass 1.8 kg that slides across the same surface at 3.8 m s⁻¹.
Assume both objects are modeled as point particles after they leave their respective launch points.
(a) Calculate the translational kinetic energy of Object A just after it leaves the table. Express your answer in joules.
(b) Calculate the translational kinetic energy of Object B as it slides across the surface. Express your answer in joules.
(c) Determine which object possesses the greater translational kinetic energy and compute the percentage difference between their energies.