Toboggan Scene

The Physics Behind the Toboggan Scene: Home Alone 1

When Kevin slides down the stairs on his toboggan he displays a change in energy. At the top of the stairs he has all gravitational potential energy and no kinetic energy. But as we he begins sliding down the stairs, he loses gravitational energy and gains kinetic energy. At the bottom of the stairs there will only be kinetic energy and the gravitational potential energy becomes 0. This can be modeled by the following equation...

Givens: 
h at top = 3m 
h bottom = 0m 
m = 27 kg
g= 9.8

Ek top + Eg top = Ek bottom Eg bottom 
           0  + mgh = 1/2 mv2 + 0
      (27)(9.8)(3) = 1/2 (27) v2
                793.8 = 13.5 v2
        793.8/13.5 = v2
                  58.8 = v2
                    7.6 = v
Eg top = 793.8 J
Ek top = 0 J
Eg bottom = 0 J
Ek top= 779.8 J