Answer
If the ramp is frictionless, the object’s speed at the bottom is the same no matter the shape of the ramp. If the ramp isn’t frictionless, the speed at the bottom depends on the shape of the ramp, and also on the coefficient of friction.
Work Step by Step
Under frictionless conditions, mechanical energy is conserved, and the object’s initial potential energy, mgh, equals the final kinetic energy. The only factor that affects the final speed is the initial height h.
If there is friction, the amount of work done by friction depends on the distance traveled and the magnitude of the frictional force, both of which are affected by the ramp’s shape. (For example, a straight ramp that is almost vertical means that friction does almost no negative work, and the final speed will be relatively high, while an almost horizontal ramp will result in a very slow final speed.)
The work done by friction affects the final kinetic energy of the object, and hence, affects its final speed.
