Question

if you slide down a rope, it's possible to create enough thermal energy to burn your hands or your legs where they grip the rope. suppose a 40kg child slides down a rope at a playground, descending 2.0m at a constant speed. how much thermal energy is created as she slides down the rope? assume that all potential energy can be transformed into thermal energy.

Answer 1

Given,

mass, m=40kg

length of rope, h=2m

Required,

Thermal energy.

Assumption;

The P.E can be transformed to thermal energy.

then,

P. E = Thermal energy.

Since,

P.E = mhg

Thermal energy = mhg

T.E = 40*2*9.8

T. E = 784J

Therefore the thermal energy created will be 784J.