Question

A 22 kg child is on a slide in a playground. She climbs 4.50 m to the top. Determine the velocity that the child would leave the slide if it was frictionless.

Answer 1

When the child is at the top of the slide, its potential energy is

P = 22[kg]*9.8[m/s²]*4.5[m] = 970.2 J.

When the child slides down, its potential energy turns into kinetic energy:

P = K = 22[kg]*(V[m/s])²/2 = 970.2 J.

Therefore,

V = √(970.2*2/22)[m/s] ≈ 9.39 [m/s].

So, the velocity of a child will be about 9.39 [m/s].