Energy Bar Chart

A block is released from rest at the top of a ramp and slides down. Watch energy convert from PE to KE (plus thermal if there's friction). The total bar never changes — energy is conserved.

KE = J speed v = m/s

PE = J

Thermal = J

Total = J (constant)

position (height) h5.0 m

ramp angle θ40°

mass m2 kg

friction μ0.00

Try: set μ = 0 — KE + PE stays equal to Total at every height. Now raise μ: a thermal bar appears and grows, but KE + PE + thermal still equals the same Total.