An automated emergency rescue capsule descends a steep emergency track from rest at the top of a research station.
The mass of the rescue capsule is 75.0 kg75.0\text{ kg}75.0 kg. The vertical drop height of the track is 16.0 m16.0\text{ m}16.0 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 rescue capsule at the top of the track. 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×heightAt the bottom of the track, the speed of the rescue capsule is 14.0 m/s14.0\text{ m/s}14.0 m/s. Calculate the kinetic energy of the rescue capsule at the bottom of the track. Use the equation:
kinetic energy=0.5×mass×(speed)2 \text{kinetic energy} = 0.5 \times \text{mass} \times (\text{speed})^2 kinetic energy=0.5×mass×(speed)2Describe why the kinetic energy of the rescue capsule at the bottom of the track is less than its gravitational potential energy at the top.