Solving Incline Plane Problem: Find Min Acceleration

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The problem involves an incline plane making an angle of 28 degrees with the horizontal, on which a block of mass 0.9 kg is resting. The block is held in place by static friction with a coefficient of 0.73, while the incline is accelerating to the right. The objective is to determine the minimum acceleration required for the block to slide down the plane.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster has drawn a free body diagram and is attempting to apply Newton's second law to the components of the forces acting on the block. Some participants suggest separating the vertical and horizontal components of acceleration, while others provide a formula involving static friction and gravitational components.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with some participants offering guidance on how to set up the equations. However, there is a lack of consensus, as the original poster expresses difficulty in understanding the provided approach and is struggling to arrive at a correct solution.

Contextual Notes

The original poster mentions having trouble with calculations and expresses frustration, indicating potential gaps in understanding the mathematical application of the concepts involved.

J.T.
Messages
8
Reaction score
0
I have been stuck on this problem for so long... It's seriously driving me insane.

The problem:
An incline plane that makes an angle of 28 degrees to the horizontal is mounted on wheels. A small block of mass m=0.9kg rests on the plane, held there by a coefficient of static friction [mu]=0.73.
The plane is accelerating to the right. What is the minimum acceleration in order that the block slides down the plane?

So far I've only been able to draw the free body diagram. After that, I realize I have to apply Newton's 2nd law to the vertical and horizontal components, but that's where I start having trouble. I don't really know how to separate out the components :frown:

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Hi

Heres how u go about with the problem:

the vertical component of the acceleration is along the normal force and the horizontal component of the acceleration is along mgsin28 component. Thus a equilibrium, if a = min accln req by the mass to slide down:

μ*(masin28 + mgcos 28) = mgsin28 + macos28

From this a(0.73*sin28 - cos 28) = g(sin28 - 0.73*cos28)

Find out a by solving the above.

Got it?

Sridhar
 
Sorry for sounding like an idiot, but I'm not getting it.

I tried solving for a as you said, but I keep getting the wrong answer Maybe I'm just really bad at calculating numbers...

Thank you for the help anyways!
 
Sorry for sounding like an idiot, but I'm not getting it.

I tried solving for a as you said, but I keep getting the wrong answer Maybe I'm just really bad at calculating numbers...

Thank you for the help anyways!
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K
Replies
2
Views
1K
Replies
16
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 27 ·
Replies
27
Views
5K
Replies
3
Views
3K