A can of bolts and nuts is pushed 2.00 m along an x axis by a broom along the gr

Question

A can of bolts and nuts is pushed 2.00 m along an x axis by a broom along the greasy (frictionless) floor of a car repair shop in a version of shuffleboard. The figure gives the work W done on the can by the constant horizontal force from the broom, versus the can's position x. The scale of the figure's vertical axis is set by Ws = 8 J. (a) What is the magnitude of that force? (b) If the can had an initial kinetic energy of 4 J, moving in the positive direction of the x axis, what is its kinetic energy at the end of the 2.00 m?

Explanation / Answer

We know

   Work = Force *x      so the slope of the graph of W vsx is the force. The slope is

   force =   8 J / 2 m = 4 Newtons

The work done is the increase in KE. After 2 meters, the workdone was 8 joules. So the KE at the end was

     4.00 + 12.00 =   12J

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