if I go down a slide but instead of carrying on to the end, I grip the sides and stop myself: where does my momentum go?

Question

I had crap science teachers so forces in physics never really made sense to me. I understand that my momentum has a kind of energy to it…so if I stop myself on the slide where does that energy go?

In: 9

Answer 1

No Physics degree here, but I took enough physics classes in college. I would probably say that the energy is transferred to the form of heat due to the friction caused by your hands. I’d liken it to the same concept as the brakes that stop your car.

Car move fast. Brake slow down. Brake get hot.