Serway & Jewett — Conservation of Energy: Problem 23

A block of mass \(m = 200 \text{ g}\) is released from rest at point Ⓐ along the horizontal diameter on the inside of hemispherical bowl of radius \(R = 30.0 \text{ cm}\), and the surface of the bowl is rough (Fig. P8.23). The block’s speed at point Ⓑ is \(1.50 \text{ m/s}\). (a) What is its kinetic energy at point Ⓑ? (b) How much mechanical energy is transformed into internal energy as the block moves from point Ⓐ to point Ⓑ? (c) Is it possible to determine the coefficient of friction from these results in any simple manner? (d) Explain your answer to part (c).