Final answer:
The wooden sled reaches a vertical height of 4.16 meters above its starting point.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the vertical height the sled reaches above its starting point, we can use the principle of conservation of mechanical energy. Initially, the sled has both kinetic energy and potential energy, but at the highest point, all of the kinetic energy is converted into potential energy. We can use the equations for kinetic energy and gravitational potential energy to find the height.
The initial kinetic energy of the sled is given by 1/2mv^2, which is (1/2)(5.0 kg)(9.0 m/s)^2 = 202.5 J. At the highest point, all of this kinetic energy will be converted into potential energy, given by mgh, where m is the mass, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height. Rearranging the equation, we have h = KE / (mg) = 202.5 J / (5.0 kg)(9.8 m/s^2) = 4.16 m. Therefore, the sled reaches a vertical height of 4.16 meters above its starting point.