Why can you model the thermal energy of an object as the "mechanical energy" of the particles that make it up?

The bar of prob. 5/82 is repeated here. the ends of the 0.4-m bar remain in contact with their re- spective support surfaces. end b has a velocity of 0.5 m/s and an acceleration of 0.3 m/s2 in the di- rections shown. determine the angular accelera- tion of the bar and the acceleration of end a.

Two students, each riding bicycles, start from the same apartment building and ride to the same building on campus, but each takes a different route. the first student rides 1100 m due east and then turns due north and travels another 1430 m before arriving at the destination. the second student heads due north for 1930 m and then turns and heads directly toward the destination. at the turning point, how far is the second student from the destination?

3. a lunar exploration vehicle was created by a research team. it weighs 3,000 kg on the earth. it needs an acceleration of 10 m/s2 on the moon. in order to have the same acceleration, what will be the net force acting on the vehicle on the earth?