The question
Name: ______________________ Date: ____________ How far does it slide? (8 points)
Experimental setup
How far does it slide?
A small block of mass m is released from rest at a height h on a frictionless ramp. At the bottom it slides onto a level rough floor, where the coefficient of kinetic friction between the block and the floor is μ, and it slides a distance d before stopping. A second block, of mass 2m and made of the same material, is released from the same height on the same ramp.
(a) Does the 2m block slide a distance on the floor that is greater than, less than or equal to d? Justify your answer without manipulating equations. [3 points]
(b) Starting with conservation of energy, derive an expression for d in terms of h, μ and physical constants, as appropriate. [3 points]
(c) Explain how your expression in part (b) supports your claim in part (a). Then predict how d changes if the release height is doubled. [2 points]