26 open query

#$&*

course PHY 201

11/20/2011 4:55 PM

026. `query 26*********************************************

Question: `qgen phy and principles of phy 4.36:

If the coefficient of kinetic friction is .30,

how much force is required to push a 35 kg

crate across the floor at constant speed?

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Your solution:

The crate has a force of 35kg*9.8m/s^2=343N

straight down.

The coefficient of friction is .3*343N=103N

approx.

It will take a force of at least 103N to

produce a constant velocity.

confidence rating #$&*:

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Given Solution:

`aIf the crate is moving then the force exerted

by friction is .30 times the normal force

between it and the floor. If the push is

horizontal, then the only horizontal forces

acting on the crate are the downward force of

gravity and the upward force exerted by the

floor. Since the crate is not accelerating in

the vertical direction, these forces are equal

and opposite so the normal force is equal to

the weight of the crate.

The weight of the crate is 35 kg * 9.8 m/s^2 =

340 N, approx.

The frictional force is therefore

f = .30 * 340 N = 100 N, approx..

If the crate moves at constant speed, then its

acceleration is zero, so the net force acting

on it is zero.

The floor exerts its normal force upward, which

counters the gravitational force (i.e., the

weight).

The frictional force acts in the direction

opposite motion; if net force is zero an equal

and opposite force is required, so you must

push the box with a force of 100 N in the

direction of motion.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

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Self-critique Rating:OK

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Question: `qgen phy 4.55 18 kg box down 37 deg

incline from rest, accel .27 m/s^2. what is the

friction force and the coefficient of friction?

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Your solution:

Force of the crate = 18kg*9.8m/s^2=176N approx

The x and y components of force will be:

R_x=176(cos307)=106N approx

R_y=176(sin307)=141N approx

I don’t know how to find the coefficient of

friction.

confidence rating #$&*:

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Given Solution:

The coordinate system is rotated from its

traditional vertical-horizontal orientation in

such a way that the positive x axis points down

the incline, below the horizontal. As the

system is rotated, the negative y axis 'swings

away' from a vector which remains in the

vertical downward direction, and that vector

ends up in the fourth quadrant. The result

will be something like the figure below, though

the rotation in this figure is only 20 degrees

and won't completely agree with the rotation in

this problem:

The weight vector being vertical in the

downward direction is therefore in the fourth

quadrant, at an angle of 37 degrees with

respect to the negative y axis.

Thus the weight vector makes angle 270 deg + 37

deg = 307 deg with the positive x axis and its

x and y components are

• wtx = 18 kg * 9.8 m/s^2 * cos(307 deg)

= 106 N and

• wty = 18 kg * 9.8 m/s^2 * sin(307 deg)

= -141 N.

The figure below depicts a fourth-quadrant

vector and its components. As before the angle

of rotation in this figure is only 20 degrees,

as opposed to the 37 degrees of this problem,

so the x in the problem component is relatively

smaller and the y component relatively larger

than depicted below:

The indented discussion of the right-angle

trigonometry of the situation is in a font

different from the rest of the solution, and

may be skipped without loss of continuity.

You get the same results using the sin and cos

of the 37 deg angle. The following assumes

some familiarity with right-triangle

trigonometry, which is assumed for General

College Physics students and should be very

familiar to University Physics students.

• In the figure below we have constructed

a right triangle whose hypotenuse coincides

with the weight vector, with one of the legs

along the negative y axis.

• If theta is the angle at the vertex

located at the origin, then theta is the angle

through which the axes are rotated. Theta

therefore coincides with the angle of the

original incline.

• The x and y components of the vector

are congruent with the legs of the triangle,

the x component with the leg opposite the angle

theta and the y component with the leg adjacent

to theta.

• Thus the 'opposite' leg is hypotenuse *

sin(theta), and the 'adjacent' leg is

hypotenuse * cos(theta).

• The vector in this example represents

the weight of the object, so the hypotenuse

represents the weight.

• The x component is positive and the y

component is negative. We conclude that

x component = + weight * sin(theta) and

y component = - weight * cos(theta),

where again theta is the angle of the incline.

• For the mass of the object in this

problem, the weight is 18 kg * 9.8 m/s^2, and

we have

x component = 18 kg * 9.8 m/s^2 * sin(theta)

and

y component = 18 kg * 9.8 m/s^2 * cos(theta)

Common point of confusion:

The x component in one model is given by the

cosine, and in the other by the sine. The y

components are also given by two different

functions.

The key idea is that the circular-model

definitions lead us to an x-y coordinate system

in which the weight vector is at angle 307

degrees relative to the positive x axis, while

the right-triangle analysis can be done in

terms of a triangle containing the 37-degree

incline. The sine of one angle is the cosine of

the other, and vice versa, except for + and -

signs.

The + and - signs arise naturally from the

circular model, which is the advantage of this

model.

The triangular model also has its advantages.

Detailed resolution of point of confusion:

The angles used in the two models are

different.

• The angle used in the 'circular' model

is 307 deg, the angle of the weight vector with

the positive x axis of our coordinate system.

• The angle used in the 'triangle' model

is 37 deg, the angle of the incline with

horizontal.

The sines and cosines of these angles are

related:

• cos(307 deg) = sin(37 deg)

• sin(307 deg) = - cos(37 deg)

The only difference is that the circular model,

if set up correctly, automatically gives you

the correct signs of the components (i.e., x

component is positive, y component negative).

If you use the triangle you have to think a

little bit more, and put the correct signs on

the angles. In this respect the circular model

is simpler.

However it's very important in advanced

applications to 'see' the triangles involved,

so the triangle model is also essential for

General College Physics and especially for

University Physics students.

Principals of Physics students who are not

familiar with trigonometry generally do better

with the circular model.

The given solution continues below

Having found the components of the weight we

find the normal force:

• The only other force in the y

direction, other than the y component of the

weight, is the normal force (which is the

elastic or compressive force exerted by the

incline in response to the y component of the

weight).

• Since the mass does not accelerate in

the y direction, we know that the net force in

the y direction is zero. It follows that

normal force + y component of weight = 0, so

that

normal force = - y component of weight = - ( -

141 N ) = 141 N.

The frictional force is

• f_Frict = coefficient of friction *

normal force, or in symbols

• f_Frict = mu * F_normal.

The acceleration of the system is .27 m/s^2

down the incline.

• The component of the gravitational

force down the incline is 106 N.

• The net force along the incline is

therefore 106 N - mu * F_normal = 106 N - mu *

141 N.

• The net force is also F_net = m a = 18

kg * .27 m/s^2 = 5 N, approx..

• Thus we have the equation

F_net = wt_x - mu * F_normal. Solving for mu:

mu = -(F_net - wt_x) / (F_normal) = - (5 N -

106 N) / (141 N) = 101 N / (141 N) = .7,

approx.

• It's best to write and solve the

equation for mu before substituting, but it

doesn't hurt to represent the relationship

using the actual quantities

F_net = wt_x - mu * F_normal. Substituting the

quantities we have already calculated this

becomes

5 N = 106 N - mu * 141 N so that

mu = (5 N - 106 N) / (-141 N) = .7.

STUDENT QUESTION

What does mu stand for?

INSTRUCTOR RESPONSE

mu is the coefficient of friction. Generally

the lowercase Greek letter mu is the symbol

used to represent the coefficient of friction.

The symbol looks like this: 

The meaning is implicit in the lines below,

quoted from the given solution:

The frictional force is

• f_Frict = coefficient of friction *

normal force, or in symbols

• f_Frict = mu * F_normal.

`aGOOD STUDENT SOLUTION USING RIGHT-ANGLE

TRIGONOMETRY: (I don't know why, but I was

hoping you would pick an odd numbered problem

here)Here goes.....For an 18kg box on an

incline of 37 degrees with an acceleration of

.270 m/s/s, I first drew out a diagram showing

the forces involved. Next the forces had to be

derived.

First, to find the force associated with the

weight component parrallel to the inline moving

the box downward....Fp=sin 37 deg(18kg)

(9.8m/s/s)=106N.

Next, the Normal force that is counter acting

the mg of the box is found by..

Fn=cos 37 deg. (18kg)(9.8 m/s/s) = 141N.

The frictional force can be found by using F=

(mass)(acceleration) where (Net Force)-

(frictional coeffecient*Normal Force)=(m)(a) so

that...

106N - (141N * Friction Coeff.) = (18kg)(.270

m/s/s) where by rearranging, the frictional

coeffecient is seen to be .717.

INSTRUCTOR COMMENT:

Note that you should specify the direction of

your positive x axis. The simplest choice will

be an x axis oriented down the incline, so that

the acceleration will be positive.

You either used triangle trigonometry or quoted

formulas from the text (hopefully the former,

so you will understand the picture that goes

with this problem). Either way you got the

correct result and did a good job.

My solutions generally formulate vectors in the

context of the circular definition of

trigonometric functions. The triangle-based

solution is probably more standard, but

requires more understanding of right-angle

trigonometry, and is more prone to confusion

regarding signs.

STUDENT COMMENTS

I don’t know if I know and was trying the

circular method or the triangular method. I

read through the Given Solution and I am still

confused. I don’t understand in the student’s

solution why the net force was 106.2 N. That

was determined by the sin product, and isn’t

that the y-component??

And I thought I remember reading that friction

works on the y-component. And I have no idea

why your diagram puts this incline in the 4th

quadrant.

By picturing a 37 degree ramp with it ascending

up towards the right, it’s clear that the

incline should be in the 1st quadrant. Please

don’t tell me that there are times when we

switch the sin and cos when solving a

problem....

INSTRUCTOR RESPONSE

The student's solution used the angle of the

incline rather than the angle with the positive

x axis.

The given solution then put the problem in the

context of the circular definition.

An incline at 37 deg from horizontal could be

depicted rising from left to right, or as

descending from left to right. It has to be one

or the other, and either choice is equally

valid. The choice illustrated in my solution is

the latter.

When using the circular definition, you set

your coordinate system, and the sines and

cosines follow the definitions. They don't

switch.

The frictional force is proportional to the

normal force, which is often (as it is in the

given solution) in the y direction.

The normal force is in the direction

perpendicular to the surface, whatever that

direction is (again, in this problem the y axis

is perpendicular to the incline, so the normal

force is in the y direction).

When using the trigonometric definitions, the

choice of sine or cosine for a given quantity

is also clear in terms of those definitions.

STUDENT SOLUTION (COMMON ERROR: CONFUSING

ANGLE OF INCLINE WITH ANGLE OF WEIGHT VECTOR)

Weight = 18kg * 9.8m/s^2 = 176.4N

Parallel = 176.4 cos 37 = 141N

Perpendicular = 176.4 sin 37 = 106N = normal

force

INSTRUCTOR RESPONSE

The magnitude of the parallel component is of

the weight clearly less than that of the

perpendicular component for an angle less than

45 degrees.

The weight vector does not make a 37 degree

angle with the positive x axis. 37 degrees is

the angle of elevation of the incline.

If you use cos and sin, the angle has to be

between the positive x axis and the weight

vector. In this case that angle would be either

233 deg or 307 deg, depending on whether the

incline is drawn sloping upward or downward as

you move from left to right.

In the 233 deg case you would get parallel

component = 176.4 cos(233 deg) = -106 N,

perpendicular component 176.4 sin(233 deg) = -

141 N.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

I worked through the problem using the solution

as a guide. I vaguely remember doing this a

long time ago.

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Self-critique Rating:2

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Question: `qUniv. 5.90 (5.86 10th edition). 4

kg and 8 kg blocks, 30 deg plane, coeff .25 and

.35 resp. Connected by string. Accel of each,

tension in string. What if reversed?

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Your solution:

For the 4kg block:

4kg*9.8m/s^2*sin30=19.5N=force by gravity

4kg*9.8m/s^2*sin300=34N=Fnorm

34N*.25=8.5N=Friction

Fnet=19.5N-8.5N=11N

acceleration=11N/4kg=2.75m/s^2

For the 8kg block:

8kg*9.8m/s^2*sin30=39N=force by gravity

8kg*9.8m/s^2*sin300=68N=Fnorm

68N*.35=24N=Friction

Fnet=39N-24N=15N

acceleration=15N/8kg=1.9m/s^2

If the 8kg block is below the 4kg block the 4kg

block will accelerate and collide with the 8kg

block. If the 4kg block is below the 8kg block

the blocks will travel together because the

string will resist the 4kg block.

I’m not sure how to find the tension in the

string.

confidence rating #$&*:

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Given Solution:

`a** We will use the direction down the incline

as the positive direction in all the following:

The normal forces on the two blocks are 4 kg *

9.8 m/s^2 * cos(30 deg) = 34 N, approx., and 8

kg * 9.8 m/s^2 * cos(30 deg) = 68 N, approx. If

sliding the 4 kg block will therefore

experience frictional resistance .25 * 34 N =

8.5 N, approx. and the 8 kg block a frictional

resistance .35 * 68 N = 24 N, approx.

The gravitational components down the incline

are 4 kg * 9.8 m/s^2 * sin(30 deg) = 19.6 N and

8 kg * 9.8 m/s^2 * sin(30 deg) = 39.2 N.

If the blocks were separate the 4 kg block

would experience net force 19.6 N - 8.5 N =

11.1 N down the incline, and the 8 kg block a

net force of 39.2 N - 24 N = 15.2 N down the

incline. The accelerations would be 11.1 N / (4

kg) = 2.8 m/s^2, approx., and 15.2 N / (8 kg) =

1.9 m/s^2, approx.

If the 4 kg block is higher on the incline than

the 8 kg block then the 4 kg block will tend to

accelerate faster than the 8 kg block and the

string will be unable to resist this tendency,

so the blocks will have the indicated

accelerations (at least until they collide).

If the 4 kg block is lower on the incline than

the 8 kg block it will tend to accelerate away

from the block but the string will restrain it,

and the two blocks will move as a system with

total mass 12 kg and net force 15.2 N + 11.1 N

= 26.3 N down the incline. The acceleration of

the system will therefore be 26.3 N / (12 kg) =

2.2 m/s^2, approx..

In this case the net force on the 8 kg block

will be 8 kg * 2.2 m/s^2 = 17.6 N, approx..

This net force is the sum of the tension T, the

gravitational component m g sin(theta) down the

incline and the frictional resistance mu * N:

Fnet = T + m g sin(theta) - mu * N

so that

T = Fnet - m g sin(theta) + mu * N = 17.6 N -

39.2 N + 24 N = 2.4 N approx.,

or about 2.4 N directed down the incline.

The relationship for the 4 kg mass, noting that

for this mass T 'pulls' back up the incline, is

Fnet = m g sin(theta) - T - mu * N so that

T = -Fnet + m g sin(theta) - mu * N = -8.8 N +

19.6 N - 8.5 N = -2.3 N. equal within the

accuracy of the mental approximations used here

to the result obtained by considering the 8 kg

block and confirming that calculation. **

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Self-critique (if necessary):

I read through the solution. I can follow

finding the forces of the two blocks but I am

having trouble with the tension of the string.

The solution makes sense to me and I can follow

it but I doubt I could solve a problem like

this without a solution to guide me.

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Self-critique Rating:2

@&

It's good that you're looking at the University Physics problems, most of which are at least in principle accessible to a good General College Physics student.

However be sure you understand that while you can learn a lot from them, these problems aren't required for your course.

*@

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&#Good responses. See my notes and let me know if you have questions. &#