Work Done by Gravity on Box on Ice Arc - Radius 8m, Angle 14 Degrees

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a box sliding down a frictionless hemispherical ice surface, specifically focusing on calculating the work done by gravity as the box moves through an angle of 14 degrees from the top. The subject area includes concepts of work, energy, and forces in a gravitational field.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to calculate work using arc length and gravitational force but questions the validity of their approach. Some participants discuss the definition of work and its dependence on the direction of motion, while others raise concerns about the complexity introduced by the box's motion along a curved surface.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different interpretations of how to calculate work done by gravity in this context. There is a focus on understanding the direction of forces and motion, and some guidance has been offered regarding the nature of gravitational force and its impact on the box's movement.

Contextual Notes

Participants are grappling with the implications of the box's motion on a curved surface and how that affects the calculation of work. There is also a mention of the box's energy being divided between rotational and translational motion, which adds complexity to the problem.

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A perfect hemisphere of frictionless ice has radius R = 8 meters. Sitting on the top of the ice, motionless, is a box of mass m = 10 kg.

The box starts to slide to the right, down the sloping surface of the ice. After it has moved by an angle 14 degrees from the top, how much work has gravity done on the box?

Ok I did W = Arc length * Gravitation force
W = ((14 / 360)2PI*8m )( 9.8 m/s^2 * 10 kg )

Can someone tell me what I'm doing wrong here? Thanks. I have attached a GIF

How fast is the box moving?
Once part one is right, this is easy, since W = 10kgV^2. The problem is finding part one.
 

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Do you remember the definition of work?

[tex]W = \int \vec{F} \cdot d\vec{r}[/tex]

Work is only done in the direction of motion, and gravity is not always acting in the direction of motion.

--J
 
That doesn't tell me much, how do I find force in the direction of motion then with a surface that is sloping like that?
 
Gravity always works in one direction: downwards.
 
Also, the box turns as it slides so you can't use the formula for energy to find the speed directly. Some of the box's energy goes into turning, not forward motion.
 
BlasterV said:
That doesn't tell me much, how do I find force in the direction of motion then with a surface that is sloping like that?

Of course you know the direction of motion! The box isn't magically going to fall through the hemisphere, nor is it going to magically going to fly off of it! It's going to follow the surface of the hemisphere exactly.

So at any given point on the hemisphere, which way is the box moving?

--J
 
BlasterV

Are you mentally challenged BlasterV?
 

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