A student must determine the effect of friction on the mechanical energy of a small block as it slides up a ramp. The block is launched with an initial speed vo from point A along a horizontal surface of negligible friction. It then slides up a ramp, where friction is not negligible, that is inclined at angle with respect to the
horizontal, as shown in the figure. The student measures the maximum vertical height h attained by the block while on the ramp, labeled as point B in the figure. At
point B, the block comes to rest. The student performs three trials with the ramp at different angles, launching the block at the same initial speed vo for each trial.
The results from the trials are displayed in the table.
How should the student use the data collected and the known quantities from the experiment to determine the initial total mechanical energy of the block-ramp-Earth
system for all trials in the experiment?
Use AE = W = Fid for all trials because the block traveled a different distance up the ramp in each trial.
B
Use AU, = mgAy for all trials because the block reaches a different height above the ground in each trial
Use WF, = U,, for one trial because the same amount of work was done by the force of friction in each trial.
D
Use K = } mv with the block's initial speed for one trial because the initial speed is the same in all trials,