One of the latest events in the year 2002 Winter Olympics was the sport of skeleton. Beginning at the top of a steep, icy track, a rider jumps onto a sled (termed as a skeleton) and proceeds belly down and head first, to slide down the track. The track consists of 15 turns and drops 104 m in elevation from top to bottom.
i) In the absence of non-conservative forces, like friction and air resistance, determine what would be the speed of the rider at the bottom of the track? Suppose that the speed of the rider at the starting of the run is relatively small and can be avoided.
ii) In reality, the best riders reach the bottom having a speed of 35.8 m/s (around 80 mi/h). Determine how much work is done on a rider 75.8 kg and skeleton through non-conservative forces?