An Olympic skier makes a run down a snowy hill starting at 100 m vertical distance above the ground. (a) If friction is neglected, what is the velocity of the skier at the bottom of the hill? (b) What is the velocity half way down the hill?

1 Answer
Dec 19, 2017

(a) The velocity at the bottom of the hill is =44.3ms1. (b)The velocity half way is =31.3ms1

Explanation:

The potential energy of theskier at the top of the hill is

PE=mgh

The kinetic energy at the bottom of the hill is

KE=12mv2

As,

mgh=12mv2

v2=2gh

v=2gh

Plugging in the values of h=100m and the acceleration due to gravity is g=9.8ms2

The svelocity of the skier at the bottom of the hill is

v=2gh=29.8100=44.3ms1

To calculate the velocity half way the hill plug in h=50m

v=2g50=31.3ms1