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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving a wagon being towed up an incline. The problem includes parameters such as the mass of the wagon, the angle of the incline, the tension in the tow rope, and the distance moved up the hill. Participants are exploring the dynamics of forces acting on the wagon and the resulting acceleration.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to apply kinematic equations to find the final velocity of the wagon but questions the correctness of their approach, particularly regarding the angle of the incline. Other participants suggest reconsidering the forces acting on the wagon, specifically the component of gravitational force acting down the slope.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on how to correctly account for the forces acting on the wagon. There is an acknowledgment of the need to consider the incline's angle in the calculations, and the original poster expresses a clearer understanding of the problem after receiving feedback.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the importance of understanding the components of forces in inclined plane problems, and there is an indication that the original poster may have been confused by the initial setup of the problem.

TheRhinoMan
Did I do this problem right? I didn't use some of the info...

Oh well... if it doesn't, it's moveable. :)

Hello Ladies and Gents,
I'm new on here, and I was wondering if someone could help me with my physics HW; And forgive me if I don't get it right away. :)

Here's the problem...
A 40kg. wagon is towed up a hill inclined at 18.5(degrees) with respect to the horizontal. The tow rope is parallel to the incline and has a tension of 140N in it. Assume that the wagon starts from rest at the botton of the hill and neglect friction. How fast is the wagon going after moving 80m. up the hill?

I tried doing this one, and well...

m=40kg.
delta(x)=80m.
Angle=18.5
Force(net)=140N
vf=?


Just stating the known, and then I...

v(fin)^2=v(ini)^2 + 2a(delta)x
vf^2 = 0 +160a

F(net)=ma
140=40a
a=3.5

in which case...

vf^2= 160(3.5)
vf^2= 560
vf = 23.66

So, that's what I did; I'm sure it's wrong, just because I didn't use the angle.
So... that's my question... what did I do wrong? Or did I do it right?

Thanks a bundle!
P.S. Heheh, I have a whole lot of physics "?"s that I don't understand...
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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TheRhinoMan said:
...

F(net)=ma
140=40a

...
This where your problem is.
The wagon is on an incline. So the accelerating force isn't 140N.
You have to take away the component of the wagon's weight acting down the slope.
 
OOOooohhhh...
I see it now, Thanks Fermat!

I called a friend last night, and he was able to help me with this problem... but I didn't understand his reasoning. Now I do; thanks!.

So... Basically, I had to make a right triangle, force of gravity being the hypotenuse (sp?), normal force being the second largest side, and the base (or smallest side) being, essentially, the force reacting against the wagon as it goes up.

The wagon needed to overcome that force and then some in order to accelerate up the hill...
Yay! I think I get it. :) I'll try another one similar to it, and if I still don't get it, I'll be back. :D

Thanks for the help, fermat!

TheRhinoMan
 
Your setup should look something like in the attachment.

The force acting against the wagon is its component down the slope, i.e. Mg.sin(18.5).
So, the accelerating force is,

F = T - Mg.sin(18.5)
 

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