A block of ice sliding down an incline has its maximum speed at
A)the top.
B)the bottom.
C)halfway down.
D)difficult to predict without knowing the slope of the incline
E)difficult to predict without knowing the coefficient of friction

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The block of ice will experience friction as it slides down the incline. As it moves downhill, the component of its weight parallel to the incline will accelerate the block of ice. The frictional force opposing the motion of the block will increase with increasing speed of the block. Therefore, the block will accelerate initially but will eventually reach a maximum speed when the frictional force is equal in magnitude to the component of its weight parallel to the incline. This occurs when the block reaches the bottom of the incline. Therefore, the maximum speed of the block will be at the bottom of the incline.

A Block of Ice Sliding Down an Incline Has Its