Force needed to keep object from accelerating problem

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the force needed to prevent a 280kg box from accelerating down a 30-degree incline, considering the effects of kinetic friction. The original poster expresses frustration over a perceived error in their calculations after spending considerable time on the problem.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to calculate the force of friction and the force exerted by a person pushing against the box but feels they are missing key components. Other participants suggest using a free body diagram (FBD) to identify all forces acting on the box and to sum forces in the x and y directions.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively discussing the components of forces involved in the problem. Some guidance has been provided regarding the setup of the FBD and the summation of forces. The original poster indicates they have identified a mistake in their calculations, suggesting a productive direction in the discussion.

Contextual Notes

The original poster mentions confusion regarding the application of angles in their calculations, specifically referencing the use of sine and cosine functions in relation to the incline.

joej
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This problem is keeping me up all night, I did what I thought was right to figure out the force needed but the answer sheet tells me that my solution is wrong, spend 4 hours trying to figure out what I did wrong can't come up with anything:

A 280kg box slides 4.3m down a 30 degree incline and is kept from accelerating by a man who is pushing back on it parallel to the incline. The effective coefficient of kinetic friction is 0.4. Calculate the force exerted by the man.

It might well be that I am completely out of my mind today and forgetting some basic thing that I am supposed to do, anyways I tried to do:

Ff = 280 * 9.8 * sin30 * 0.4

I am quite sure actually that I am forgetting something... just god damn don't know what it is.

thnx for any help in advance.
 
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Try [tex]\sum F=0[/tex]

Now, as for the forces you seem to be missing one. Draw a FBD. Put ALL forces acting on the box. Sum them in the x and y directions. If you need help determining the forces post what you've got thus far and we'll see if we can figure out which force(s) is/are missing.

Good luck

PS welcome.
 
hrm well the FBD that I drew I set up the x-axis to be parallel to the incline and basically I have the following forces:

g, pulling the object down (is split into two forces since it is @ an incline the force pulling the box down the incline should be sin30 of the full force, I believe)
coefficiant of friction force (0.4) going against g
force that the person excerts on the box also going against g
and normal force which I believe should be equal to cos60 of the g force
 
So you have:

[tex]\sum F_x=W_x-F_{fr}-F_{man}=0[/tex]

You know how to find the component of the weight vector in the x direction. That Wieght of the box is pulling the box to the right (positive). The man and friction are pushing to the left (negative).

How do you determine the force of friction? Once you figure this out you'll have all the parts needed to solve this question.
 
that is where I get lost I mean okay I determine the force of friction which should be equal to:
coefficient of friction * netForce

now net force will be mass * acceleration (all in x-axis)

this I can do with: mass * acceleration * sin30

and so here I get lost as to what I should do next



----edit----

never mind I got it, seems I was messing up one cos angle and that was causing all the problems duh god I'm stupid :-p
 
Last edited:

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