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A2L Item 143

Meta-Information
Description: 
Compare the speed of a block falling vertically to that of one sliding down a smooth incline.
Goal: 
Reasoning with energy
Level: 
High School
Level: 
Undergraduate
Keywords: 
Conservation
Keywords: 
Energy
Keywords: 
Mechanics
Keywords: 
Velocity
Source: 
UMPERG-ctqpe62

Two identical blocks fall a distance H. One falls directly down, the other slides down a frictionless incline. Which has the largest speed at the bottom?

  1. The one falling vertically
  2. The one on the incline
  3. Both have the same speed
  4. Cannot be determined
Commentary

Answer

(3) The only force doing work is gravity and both block undergo the same vertical displacement.