Mechanics: Work, Energy and Power

Work, Energy and Power: Audio Guided Solution

Problem 14:

Chloe leads South’s varsity softball team in hitting. In a game against New Greer Academy this past weekend, Chloe slugged the 181-gram softball so hard that it cleared the outfield fence and landed on Lake Avenue. At one point in its trajectory, the ball was 28.8 m above the ground and moving with a speed of 19.7 m/s. Determine the total mechanical energy of the softball.

Audio Guided Solution

Habits of an Effective Problem Solver

  • Read the problem carefully and develop a mental picture of the physical situation. If necessary, sketch a simple diagram of the physical situation to help you visualize it.
  • Identify the known and unknown quantities in an organized manner. Equate given values to the symbols used to represent the corresponding quantity - e.g., vo = 0 m/s; a = 4.2 m/s/s; vf = 22.9 m/s; d = ???.
  • Use physics formulas and conceptual reasoning to plot a strategy for solving for the unknown quantity.
  • Identify the appropriate formula(s) to use.
  • Perform substitutions and algebraic manipulations in order to solve for the unknown quantity.

Read About It!

Get more information on the topic of Work, Energy and Power at The Physics Classroom Tutorial.

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