Solve Work Problem: Friction & Sliding Distance of 62 kg Player in Baseball Game

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a 62 kg baseball player sliding to a stop after hitting a fly ball, with a focus on calculating the work done by friction during the slide. The context includes concepts of kinetic friction and work-energy principles.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss calculating work from frictional force and the relationship between mass, acceleration, and friction. Questions are raised about the assumptions of constant friction and the implications of negative work.

Discussion Status

Participants are exploring various approaches to the problem, including calculating the coefficient of kinetic friction and the resulting acceleration. Some guidance has been offered regarding the relationship between force, distance, and work, while others express uncertainty about the concept of negative work.

Contextual Notes

There is mention of assumptions regarding constant friction and the need to consider the vector nature of acceleration. The discussion also highlights the importance of understanding kinetic energy loss during the sliding process.

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After hitting a long fly ball that goes over the right fielder's head and lands in the outfield, the batter decides to keep going past second base and try for third base. The 62.0 kg player begins sliding 2.40 m from the base with a speed of 4.07 m/s. If the player comes to rest at third base, how much work was done on the player by friction?

Any tips on how to set this up??
 
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How do you calculate work from a force? Can you find the frictional force from the given information? You are given a mass, try and find an acceleration. You will assume the frictional force is constant in this problem.
Please show us what you have done so far.
 
Norman said:
How do you calculate work from a force? Can you find the frictional force from the given information? You are given a mass, try and find an acceleration. You will assume the frictional force is constant in this problem.
Please show us what you have done so far.

sorry bout that, ok i calculated the coefficient of kinetic friction in part a of the problem and it was .352. The acceleration is 3.45 m/s^2.
 
Now that you have the acceleration (or the coefficient of friction) you can figure out the frictional force correct? Now can you get the work done by a constant force from knowing this force and the distance slid?
 
Norman said:
Now that you have the acceleration (or the coefficient of friction) you can figure out the frictional force correct? Now can you get the work done by a constant force from knowing this force and the distance slid?

ok i got the answer and i was doing it right except i wasn't using a negative value for acceleration, but i still don't know how negative work is possible. thanks for the help anyway.
 
You know the runners mass and velocity just before he slides- and you know that his velocity is 0 when he stops sliding. How much kinetic energy has he lost?
 
HallsofIvy has the easiest way to do this problem, but I that assumes you have done the work-energy theorem.

As for the negative work, it is simply a decision about whether or not the work was done by the object or work was done on the object.

In addition, it is very important that you understand why the minus sign for the acceleration is important. Think about the definition of acceleration and its vector nature.

Cheers,
Ryan
 

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