Find the Volume of xº Plane with 10kg and 15kg Masses

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a system of two masses, 10kg and 15kg, connected by a string over a pulley on an inclined plane. The inclined plane is at an angle of xº to the horizontal, and the 10kg mass is positioned 5m down the plane from the top. The 15kg mass is suspended 4m above the floor. The system is released from rest, and the discussion revolves around determining the angle of the incline based on the time it takes for the string to go slack after release.

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  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the relationship between the forces acting on the masses and how to calculate the angle of the incline. There are attempts to clarify the problem's requirements, with some participants questioning the original poster's understanding of the terms used, such as "volume" versus "angle."

Discussion Status

There is ongoing exploration of the forces involved, particularly the net force acting on the 15kg mass and how it relates to the angle of the incline. Some participants have provided guidance on using Newton's second law to set up equations for both masses, while others express confusion about the calculations and the correct approach to finding the angle.

Contextual Notes

The original poster is a student seeking help with a problem set by their teacher, emphasizing a desire to understand the concepts rather than simply obtaining answers. There is a mention of a potential reward for solving the problem, which adds to the urgency of the discussion.

Conor
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A mass of 10kg lies on a smooth plane which is inclined at to the horizontal. The mass is 5m from top measured along the plane. One end of a light inextensible string is attached to the mass. The string passes up the line of greatest slope and over a smooth pulley fixed at the top of the plane. The other end is attached to a freely suspended 15kg mass. This mass is 4m above the floor. The system is released from rest 1 and 3/7 seconds later

Find the volume of

~~~~~~~~~~~

The "1 and 3/7 seconds" refers to one second and then 3 sevenths of a second --- i couldn't do a fraction.




Thanks for all you help,

Conor
 
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That's easy the volume is zero!

Now if you would post the rest of the problem I'd give you a serious answer. What happens 1 3/7 s later?
 
Originally posted by Integral
That's easy the volume is zero!

Now if you would post the rest of the problem I'd give you a serious answer. What happens 1 3/7 s later?

That's all it said, I think -- the system was released

**I'll try to find out if there was anymore
 
Originally posted by Integral
That's easy the volume is zero!

Now if you would post the rest of the problem I'd give you a serious answer. What happens 1 3/7 s later?

Sorry you're rite - there is another bit


A mass of 10kg lies on a smooth plane which is inclined at xº to the horizontal. The mass is 5m from top measured along the plane. One end of a light inextensible string is attached to the mass. The string passes up the line of greatest slope and over a smooth pulley fixed at the top of the plane. The other end is attached to a freely suspended 15kg mass. This mass is 4m above the floor. The system is released from rest and the string first goes slack 1 and 3/7 seconds later

I need to find the angle at which the plane was inclined

The bit in italics is the edited bit

Thanks,
Conor
 
"Find the angle" is a heckuva lot different from "find the volume"!

The string will "go slack", of course, when the 15kg mass hits the floor. That is, when it has gone down 4 m. What you need to do is find the "net" force on the 15kg (Its weight minus the upward force due to the 10 kg mass on the incline). The upward force will be the same as the component of 10 kg mass's weight down the slope and that will depend on the angle. Calculate the acceleration necessary to go 4 m in 1 and 3/7 seconds. Use "F= ma" to find the net force. Use that to find the upward force and, finally, use that to find the angle.
 
In my first post, i ment to say "size of the angle"

I don't really understand your "theory" of it. I posted this in the general board and it got moved here.

I'm only 13 and our maths teacher set us this challenge - if we can work this out from Monday then we get off homework for the rest of Lent.

If possible, could I have the answer and how to do it.


As I said, this isn't homework
 
OK - I think the answer is 25º

Can someone confirm if this is correct?
 
As said before I have never done a problem of this sort:

I think the answer is one of the following:

a) 25º
b) 8.21º
c) 53º
d) 26.74º


Could anyone tell me the correct answers as I am at a loss and this is very important
 
Originally posted by Conor
If possible, could I have the answer and how to do it.
Halls told you how to do it. If you can't find the acceleration, and you don't know how to apply F=ma, then you can't do this problem.
As I said, this isn't homework
Sure it is!

By the way, none of the four answers you gave is correct. (Of course, I may have made a mistake.)
 
  • #10
Yeah - my teacher asked us to find out and try to explain it -- we haven't done anyof this before.

I'm trying to learn but am a bit above my depth.


I will try my best to work it out myself - if someone would kindly explain how to calculate acceleration and how to apply F=MA


**By TheWay, I'm not a 17 yr old posing as a 13yr old so you can do my homework - i said i'll try to work it out if someone told me how to calculate acceleration and how to apply F=MA (If this was really homework, then I would know how to do acceleration and F=MA**

Thanks :smile:

Conor
 
  • #11
We know the weight fell 4m in 1 and 3/7 seconds. From this we can calculate the acceleration, since acceleration is distance traveled (d) divided by time (t) squared. This gives us the following:

4m
_____________
(1 3/7 secs)^2 2.040816 sec^2

=

4m
_____________
(1.42857sec)^2

=

4m
_____________
2.040816 sec^2

approx 1.96m/sec^2 = acceleration=a

Our mass is given at 15 kilograms. Now we can calculate F.

F = ma

F = (15kg)(1.96m/sec^2)

F = 29.4 kg-m/sec^2

This is the force with which the weight fell, aka the force the 15kg weight exerted on the 10kg weight on the smooth plane as they were connected with an inelastic string. Of course the 10kg weight was also acting upon the 15kg weight, slowing its acceleration in comparison to a free falling body, which would have the normal Earth acceleration (aka gravity). Now we need to find out this force in order to find out the angle of the force that resisted the free fall of the 15kg weight.


------------------------------


I've figured this out?? Is it rite??

And now, how do I change the force (29.4N) into the angle?
 
  • #12
Please, this is really important -- I just need some person to explain to me how to get from N(ewtons) --> º

Thanks
 
  • #13
OK, well thanks for trying every1
 
  • #14
Would the upward force be

117.6 N?
 
  • #15
Originally posted by Conor
We know the weight fell 4m in 1 and 3/7 seconds. From this we can calculate the acceleration, since acceleration is distance traveled (d) divided by time (t) squared.
Almost. D = 1/2 a t2
...
Our mass is given at 15 kilograms. Now we can calculate F.

F = ma

F = (15kg)(1.96m/sec^2)

F = 29.4 kg-m/sec^2

This is the force with which the weight fell, aka the force the 15kg weight exerted on the 10kg weight on the smooth plane as they were connected with an inelastic string.
No. If you had used the correct acceleration, this F would be the net force on the 15 kg mass.

The way to do this problem is to apply F=ma to both masses. Note that each mass has two forces acting on it: the force of gravity (or a component of that force) and the tension in the string. Find the net force on each mass and then apply F=ma. You'll get two equations with two unknowns: the tension in the string and the angle. Solve for the angle.
 
  • #16
The correct acceleration?! I'm not sure i understand that bit of it?

do you mean

D = 1/2 a t^2?? If so, then does this make sense as we already have D?




The way to do this problem is to apply F=ma to both masses. Note that each mass has two forces acting on it: the force of gravity (or a component of that force) and the tension in the string. Find the net force on each mass and then apply F=ma. You'll get two equations with two unknowns: the tension in the string and the angle. Solve for the angle

So I need to do

F=ma for the suspended weight and agin for the weight on the plane when I do this I will have two values --> the forces of the two masses.

Then I use these to get the angle? Using what formula?


THanks,
Conor
 
  • #17
Originally posted by Conor
do you mean

D = 1/2 a t^2?? If so, then does this make sense as we already have D?
Solve for a, of course. This is the correct relationship between distance, acceleration, and time. What you were doing was incorrect.
So I need to do

F=ma for the suspended weight and agin for the weight on the plane when I do this I will have two values --> the forces of the two masses.
No. Applying Newton's 2nd law (Fnet = ma) to each mass will give you two equations. Start by finding the forces on each mass and write these equations.
 
  • #18
Nah, I'm lost - I don't understand it at all

We'll just do the homework.


Thanks for all your help :smile:


Conor
 

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