A lightweight object and a very heavy object are sliding with equal speeds along a level frictionless surface.They both slide up the same frictionless hill with no air resistance.Which object rises to a greater height?
A)The heavy object, because it has greater initial kinetic energy.
B)The light object, because gravity slows it down less.
C)The lightweight object, because the gravitational force exerted on it is less.
D)The heavy object, because it has more mass to carry it up the hill.
E)They both slide to exactly the same height.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The two objects have equal speeds and encounter the same gravitational force as they travel up the hill. Since there is no friction or air resistance, the only factor that affects their height is the amount of gravitational potential energy they have at the top of the hill. Both objects have the same amount of kinetic energy at the bottom of the hill, so they will both have the same amount of potential energy at the top, which means they will both rise to the same height.

A Lightweight Object and a Very Heavy Object Are Sliding