Stuck on Physics Assignment: Finding Force Required to Move Block Up Wall

[Kumar9]

Hi all, I'm in my first year of university physics (mechanics and waves) and am stuck on an assignment question. The question itself is not complicated, but I feel as though I'm skipping over something important. The question is:

A 3.8 kg block is pressed against a vertical wall by a force that is applied 35 degrees to the horizontal. The block is initially at rest and the coefficient of static friction is 0.54, so what force must be applied to begin moving the box up the wall?

From my understanding, the normal force would be equal to the x component of the force vector, which would allow the maximum force of static friction to be calculated. I don't quite know how to proceed from there...so any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[CarlB]

The frictional force is given by the x component of the applied force multiplied by 0.54. The frictional force will resist any other applied force. The applied forces are the y component of the applied force (pointing up), and the y component of the gravitational force (pointing down).

That should get you started. Good luck.

Carl

 

[Kumar9]

Yes, that's what I needed to be confirmed. Thank you.