Block sliding up and down rough ramp · PhysicsBowl 2025 #27

Physics · mechanics

Problem

A block of wood is given a certain speed at the bottom of a rough ramp. The block slides a certain distance up the ramp and returns to the point from which it was launched. Let

t_{up}

represent the time it takes the block to travel up the ramp to its highest point and

t_{down}

represent the time it takes the block to travel down the ramp to the bottom. Let

a_{up}

represent the magnitude of the block's acceleration while traveling up the ramp and

a_{down}

represent the block's acceleration while traveling down the ramp. Which of the following correctly compares these quantities? a.

t_{up} > t_{down}

and

a_{up} < a_{down}

t_{up} < t_{down}

and

a_{up} > a_{down}

t_{up} = t_{down}

and

a_{up} = a_{down}

t_{up} > t_{down}

and

a_{up} > a_{down}

t_{up} < t_{down}

and

a_{up} < a_{down}

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