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
Assuming there is perfect momentum transfer, your momentum is transferred to the Earth.
As a reminder…
Momentum = mass x velocity
As you come to a complete stop, the Earth will take up your momentum, however because the Earth has significantly more mass than you, to have the same momentum, the velocity change of earth is low, as in, very very low.
So:
Momentum1 (when you’re sliding)
= your personal momentum
= your low mass x YOUR HIGH VELOCITY
Momentum2 (when you stopped)
= Earth’s new momentum from you stopping
= EARTH’S HUGE MASS x relatively tiny changed velocity
Momentum1 = Momentum2
Of course this assumes perfect momentum transfer. Some of the energy will be lost to the creation of the sound and heat resulting from a non perfect grip, but that should be quite small.
From a momentum perspective:
Your hands slow down, the slide, earth, and air molecules around you speed up. Most of it goes to earth, but earth is massive so it doesn’t speed up much at all. The slide and air molecules speed up in the form of heat and sound, which can be thought of us vibrations, or another measurement of movement. Higher speed= hotter material or louder noise, roughly.
From an energy perspective:
You have kinetic energy while moving. When you stop that energy transfers into the slide as heat, the air molecules as sound, and the earth as kinetic energy. Since kinetic energy, like momentum, depends on mass, the earth being extremely massive causes the change in kinetic energy to result in barely any change in movement.
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