Physics question?

Question

There are two slides at the park between which you are deciding. Both start at a height of 6 m. One is short and steep while the other is long and shallow. If both slides are frictionless, which one should you choose if you want to be moving as fast as possible at the bottom? Why?

Answer 1

The speed will be the same on both. I could go through the math but that is how it works out. Look at it this way, you will start out with the same potential energy on both slides since you start at the same height - 6m. All of that potential energy will be converted to kinetic energy so therefore you will end up going the same speed.

Another way to look at it; your acceleration will be less on the shallower slide, but because it's longer you will have a greater distance over which to accelerate. In the end you will have the same speed as the shorter slide.

Answer 2

I'm not sure the first three answers are right. The falling body accelerates at 32ft/sec^2 independant of any horization velocity component. In a system where a is bullet fired horizontally at the same time a bullet is dropped produces both bullets hitting the ground at the same time. Vertical velocity, therefore, is identical but the horizontal component of long and shallow is much greater.

Not sure, folks, but I'm voting for shallow and long!

Answer 3

The shortest distance between two points is...

Short and steep.

Answer 4

Short and steep, because theacceleration due to gravity(10m/s2) will be able to effect you more directly and not be acted against by equal but opposite force of the slide holding you up.

Answer 5

Short steep because it has less mass meaning that it will go faster.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

short and steep of coarse