Help w/ this force problem please

  • Thread starter Thread starter viendong
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Force
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving forces acting on a lawnmower being pushed at an angle. The problem includes concepts of friction, weight, and the dynamics of motion on a horizontal surface.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to derive the force required to slide the lawnmower at constant speed and expresses concern about the singularity in their derived formula. Participants explore the relationship between the singularity condition and the critical angle.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided insights into the conditions under which the force becomes infinitely large, while others are clarifying the connection between the singularity condition and the critical angle. There is an ongoing exploration of the implications of these findings.

Contextual Notes

The problem involves specific parameters such as the weight of the lawnmower and the coefficient of friction, which are not fully defined in the discussion. The implications of the angle of the handle on the force required are also under examination.

viendong
Messages
12
Reaction score
0
hi, I've approach the first question, but i don't know how to start w/ this question. I already have my body diagram and everything. Could someone tell me how ?
------------
Consider a lawnmower of weight which can slide across a horizontal surface with a coefficient of friction . In this problem the lawnmower is pushed using a massless handle, which makes an angle with the horizontal. Assume that , the force exerted by the handle, is parallel to the handle.

Take the positive x direction to be to the right and the positive y direction to be upward.
http://session.masteringphysics.com/probhtml/MFS.cf.8_a.jpg
----------
The first question...
Find the magnitude Fh , of the force required to slide the lawnmower over the ground at constant speed by pushing the handle. Express the required force in terms of given quantities.
>>> For this I got
[tex]Fh=(-(\mu*w))/(-cos(\theta)+\mu*sin(\theta))[/tex]
-----------
This question I've problem with
The solution for Fh has a singularity (that is, becomes infinitely large) at a certain angle theta critical . For any angle [tex]\theta>\theta critical[/tex] , the expression for Fh will be negative. However, a negative applied force Fh would reverse the direction of friction acting on the lawnmower, and thus this is not a physically acceptable solution. In fact, the increased normal force at these large angles makes the force of friction too large to move the lawnmower at all.

Find an expression for [tex]tan(\theta) critical[/tex]
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
The force will become infinitely large whenever the denominator of your expression for the force goes to zero. Thus, the singularity occurs at

[tex]\mu \sin \theta - \cos \theta = 0[/tex]
 
I'm not quite understand how [tex]\mu \sin \theta - \cos \theta = 0[/tex]
relate w/ [tex]tan(\theta critical)[/tex] ?
 
hi, i think i got it . it's 1/mu after all :)
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
4K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
  • · Replies 41 ·
2
Replies
41
Views
5K
  • · Replies 24 ·
Replies
24
Views
3K
Replies
46
Views
8K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
14K
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
3K
Replies
1
Views
3K