A 55 kg skier is at the top of a slope. The vertical distance between start and finish is 10m. (a) What is her Potential Energy? (b) How fast is she moving at the bottom of the hill?

Answer 1

(a) P.E. = m g h

(b) neglecting friction (slippery snow)
... the P.E. at the top becomes K.E. at the bottom
... m g h = 1/2 m v^2
... v = √(2 g h)