The miners working in a salt mine use smooth wooden slides to move quickly from one level to another.
(a) A miner of mass 90 kg travels down the slide.
Calculate the change in gravitational potential energy of the miner when he moves 15 m vertically downwards.
gravitational field strength = 10 N/kg
Use the correct equation from the Physics Equations Sheet.
Show clearly how you work out your answer.
Change in gravitational potential energy = .................................. J
(2 marks)
(b) Calculate the maximum possible speed that the miner could reach at the bottom of the slide.
Use the correct equation from the Physics Equations Sheet.
Show clearly how you work out your answer.
Give your answer to an appropriate number of significant figures.
Maximum possible speed = .............................................. m/s
(3 marks)
(c) The speed of the miner at the bottom of the slide is much less than the calculated maximum possible speed.
Explain why.
(3 marks)
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From Q4 P2 AQA June 2012 (Higher)