Calculating Work Done Dragging a 20.0kg Suitcase

[askthefool]

A 20.0kg suitcase is dragged horizontally on a flat floor by a passenger at a constant velocity for 15m. The coefficient of kinetic friction is .340.

What is the work done by the passenger?

I've been trying to do W = FD
F = ma

But it says constant veloctiy, which throws me off. Constant veloocity means no acceleration right? I'm lost. Thanks in advance.

 

[askthefool]

I think I get it actaully. It's werid. I post a question here and even before I get a response things start making sense.

I did, F - frictionForce = ma. Since a = 0, the F = frictionForce.

So, W = coeff of friction * mass * gravity * distance. Would that be correct?

 

[Nylex]

I think I get it actaully. It's werid. I post a question here and even before I get a response things start making sense.

I did, F - frictionForce = ma. Since a = 0, the F = frictionForce.

So, W = coeff of friction * mass * gravity * distance. Would that be correct?

Yep, sounds ok. Constant velocity indeed means no acceleration, which means that there's no resultant force (i.e. the forces balance, as you've done).