Free body diagrams for forces on a block

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around identifying the forces acting on a block resting on a slope in a physics assignment context. Participants explore the concepts of weight, normal force, static friction, and their interactions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants consider various forces such as weight, normal force, and static friction, questioning their roles and relationships. There is a focus on understanding how these forces interact when the block is at rest on the slope.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided insights into the balance of forces, particularly the need for static friction to counteract the component of weight acting down the slope. There is an ongoing exploration of the correct identification of forces, with multiple interpretations being discussed.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working within the constraints of an assignment that requires specific identification of forces, and there is some confusion regarding the roles of static friction and normal force in this context.

wajhea
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Hi all,

For an online physics assignment I have a question about a block resting on a slope. The question asks what forces are acting on the block.. and I was thinking normal and weight force? But it turned out to be incorrect...

list of possibilities to choose from
weight
kinetic friction
static friction
force of push
normal force
 
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If the block is resting on the slope, what does that tell you?
 
Does it mean that there are no forces acting on it? I don't know, I don't get this stuff.
 
or static friction maybe?
 
It means that the net force on the object is zero. So what additional force is needed to balance the component of the weight acting down the slope?
 
normal force?
 
No. The normal force is perpendicular to the surface of the slope, so it cannot act to balance out a force parallel to the surface.
 
So could the static force balance out the forces?
 
wajhea said:
So could the static force balance out the forces?
Absolutely! If there were no friction, the object would slide down the slope.
 
  • #10
Thanks...

as my answer I put down weight and static friction, but turns out that was wrong because the answer also includes normal force. Oh well...
 
  • #11
Yes. Three forces act on the object.
 

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