Calculating Final Speed of a 120kg Crate on a Frictionless and Frictional Floor

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the final speed of a 120kg crate being pulled across two different surfaces: a frictionless floor followed by a frictional floor with a coefficient of kinetic friction of 0.30. The crate is subjected to a constant horizontal force of 400 N over a total distance of 24 m.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the work done on the crate during both the frictionless and frictional segments, attempting to calculate the final speed by considering the net work done. There are questions about the accuracy of their calculations and the assumptions made regarding forces and friction.

Discussion Status

Some participants express uncertainty about their calculations and seek confirmation of their reasoning. There is a recognition of the need to consider the effects of friction and the total work done on the crate. Multiple interpretations of the problem are being explored, with no explicit consensus reached.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the importance of accurately accounting for the work done against friction and the initial conditions of the problem. There is an acknowledgment of potential missing information or misjudgments in their calculations.

psycovic23
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I don't have an answer to this, as I'm going over an old test, but I just want to make sure I'm doing it right.

A 120kg crate is pulled from rest across a frictionless floor with a constant horizontal force of 400 N for a distance of 12m. The force continues to be applied, but for the next 12 m the floor is not frictionless and has a coefficient of kinetic friction of .30. What's the final speed?

I get 9.44m/s by adding the work done when the box is frictionless (4800J), then subtracting it from the work lost to the friction (4233) and set that quantity = .5mv^2. Is this right?
 
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psycovic23 said:
I don't have an answer to this, as I'm going over an old test, but I just want to make sure I'm doing it right.
A 120kg crate is pulled from rest across a frictionless floor with a constant horizontal force of 400 N for a distance of 12m. The force continues to be applied, but for the next 12 m the floor is not frictionless and has a coefficient of kinetic friction of .30. What's the final speed?
I get 9.44m/s by adding the work done when the box is frictionless (4800J), then subtracting it from the work lost to the friction (4233) and set that quantity = .5mv^2. Is this right?

Nope.U need to consider this statement:(underlined).U'll figure out what's missing from your judgements.

Daniel.
 
Hm...I still can't get it. After it's in the friction zone, there's 400N forward * 12m to give you 4800J - 352.8N of friction * 12m = the work done on the box during the duration of second half of sliding. You add that to the first half...solve for .5mv^2 and I get 9.45 again...I'm lost :cry:
 
psycovic23 said:
Hm...I still can't get it. After it's in the friction zone, there's 400N forward * 12m to give you 4800J - 352.8N of friction * 12m = the work done on the box during the duration of second half of sliding. You add that to the first half...solve for .5mv^2 and I get 9.45 again...I'm lost :cry:

If u wrote anything similar to this:
[tex]\frac{mv^{2}}{2} =9600 -\mu mg\cdot 12[/tex]
,then it's okay.

Daniel.

PS.I believe that 9,45m/s is okay.
 
Yea, that's what I had..although in a slightly different form. Alright, I'm happy to know I wasn't wrong now :biggrin: I was rippin my hair out over that! :-p
 

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