A surfer is catching a wave. Suppose she starts at the top of the wave with a speed of 1.3 m/s and moves down the wave until her speed increases to 8.0 m/s. The drop in her vertical height is 2.8 m. If her mass is 59 kg, how much work is done by the (nonconservative) force of the wave?

Answer 1

ΔKE =W(wave)+W(gravity)
W(wave)= ΔKE- W(gravity)= m•v²/2 - m•v₀²/2 – m•g•Δh =
=59(8²-1.3²)/2 - 59•9.8•2.8 =219 J.