A heavy parcel is released from rest and slides down a spiral chute in a delivery warehouse.
The mass of the parcel is 12.5 kg12.5\text{ kg}12.5 kg. The vertical height of the chute is 8.0 m8.0\text{ m}8.0 m. The gravitational field strength is 9.8 N/kg9.8\text{ N/kg}9.8 N/kg.
Calculate the gravitational potential energy of the parcel at the top of the chute. Use the equation: gravitational potential energy=mass×gravitational field strength×height\text{gravitational potential energy} = \text{mass} \times \text{gravitational field strength} \times \text{height}gravitational potential energy=mass×gravitational field strength×height
At the bottom of the chute, the speed of the parcel is 11.2 m/s11.2\text{ m/s}11.2 m/s. Calculate the kinetic energy of the parcel at the bottom of the chute. Use the equation: kinetic energy=0.5×mass×(speed)2\text{kinetic energy} = 0.5 \times \text{mass} \times (\text{speed})^2kinetic energy=0.5×mass×(speed)2
Explain why the kinetic energy of the parcel at the bottom of the chute is less than its gravitational potential energy at the top of the chute.