Solving Work Needed to Push 1147kg Car Up 15.1o Incline

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the minimum work required to push a 1147 kg car up a 15.1-degree incline over a distance of 376 meters, considering the effective coefficient of friction of 0.23.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore various formulations for calculating work, questioning the inclusion of sine and cosine factors in their equations.
  • Some participants suggest using the work-energy theorem and drawing free body diagrams to clarify forces acting on the car.
  • There is discussion about the forces opposing the motion, specifically gravity and friction, and how to properly account for these in calculations.
  • Questions arise regarding the assumptions about the coefficient of friction and its relation to the incline angle.

Discussion Status

The discussion includes multiple interpretations of the problem and various approaches to calculating the required work. Some participants provide guidance on using free body diagrams and the work-energy theorem, while others express confusion over the correct application of forces and the equations involved.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating through potential misunderstandings about the role of friction and gravity in the context of the incline, as well as the implications of the coefficient of friction in their calculations.

Jayhawk1
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I am having a lot of trouble with this problem:

What is the minimum work needed to push a 1147 kg car 376 m up a 15.1o incline if the effective coefficient of friction is 0.23?

I thought that it was (m)(.23)(sin 15.1)(376) but that isn't right. Any help would be appreciated.
 
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Nope,my guess is that it should encompass a "cosine".So what is the force up against whom u have to do work...?

Daniel.
 
So it should be (m)(.23)(cos15.1)(376)? ...for some reason I though the coeff. of friction incorporated the angle... am I wrong in assuming this?
 
Just use the work energy theorem.
[tex]\Delta W = \Delta E_g + \Delta E_f + \Delta E_s[/tex]

Draw a free body diagram first, it will help you.

Regards,

Nenad
 
There are 2 forces agains which work needs to be performed:gravity & friction force...
You have found the one for gravity (it should be with a minus) and u need to add to it the work performed by friction force.

Daniel.
 
Suppose the x-axis is along the incline and y-axis is perpendicular to this surface...


We have 3 fources on the object : gravity, friction[tex]{\mu}{\vec N}[/tex]
, normal force N

So along the x-axis we have :

[tex]F_x = -mgsin(\theta) - {\mu}N[/tex]

Along the y-axis we have :


[tex]F_y = 0 = -mgcos(\theta) + N[/tex]



Now, you can calculate N from the second equation and then plug it into the first one. Now you know everything along the incline (x-axis). So just fill in the numbers and multiply this by the distance that is travelled.

regards
marlon
 
So for the component of force due to friction it is (coeff. friction)(mass)(376)?
 
Last edited:
dextercioby said:
There are 2 forces agains which work needs to be performed:gravity & friction force...
You have found the one for gravity (it should be with a minus) and u need to add to it the work performed by friction force.

Daniel.

Wrong, besides you confused the OP, when you started about "encompassing" a cosine...his formula was initially correct for the gravity-part.

marlon
 
Jayhawk1 said:
So for the component of force due to friction it is (coeff. friction)(mass)(376)?

Nope, read my post...

it is (coeff friction)(NORMAL FORCE) for the formula of the friction force along the incline. Beware of the minus-sign. Then multiply this by 376 to get the work done...

I showed you how to calculate the normal force N

marlon
 
  • #10
What's wrong in my statement that u quoted...? :

Daniel.
 
  • #11
dextercioby said:
What's wrong in my statement that u quoted...? :

Daniel.

Look at post number 3 !

marlon
 
  • #12
You said "wrong" when u quoted something right,isn't that so...?:-p

Marlon,what can i say more...?

Daniel.
 
  • #13
dextercioby said:
You said "wrong" when u quoted something right,isn't that so...?:-p

Marlon,what can i say more...?

Daniel.

Please, stop being such a big baby about this. You know very well you are wrong. Now, you don't have to admit it to me, but just stop posting useless answers just to have the last word.

marlon

Stick to the facts
 
  • #14
[tex]F_x = -mgsin(\theta) - {\mu}mgcos(\theta)[/tex]

I just replaced N with the second equation. Now for the work, you can omit the minus-signs

Fill in the numbers and multiply by the traveled distance and you are done. ps disregard dexter's posts because they are erronuous...

marlon
 
Last edited:

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