What is the required distance for a student wearing frictionless in-line skates on a horizontal surface to be pushed by a friend with a constant force of 48 N, starting from rest, so that her final kinetic energy is 351 J?
Final answer: Using the Work-Energy Theorem in physics, the student must be pushed a distance of 7.31 meters for her final kinetic energy to be 351 J.
Understanding the Work-Energy Theorem
The Work-Energy Theorem is a fundamental concept in physics that relates the work done on an object by a net force to the change in its kinetic energy. In the given scenario, the student is pushed by a friend with a constant force of 48 N, and we need to determine the distance required for the student to reach a final kinetic energy of 351 J.
To calculate the distance, we can use the formula for work done: work (W) = force (F) x distance (d). Given that the final kinetic energy (W) is 351 J and the force (F) is 48 N, we can rearrange the formula to solve for distance (d).
Solving for distance (d):
d = W / F
d = 351 J / 48 N
d = 7.31 meters
Therefore, the student must be pushed a distance of 7.31 meters for her final kinetic energy to be 351 J. This calculation demonstrates the application of the Work-Energy Theorem in determining the required distance for a desired outcome in a physical system.
To explore the concept of the Work-Energy Theorem further and its applications in various scenarios, you can refer to additional resources available online.