Find speed using the work-energy theorem

In summary, the final speed of a 96-kg crate, starting from rest, being pulled across a frictionless floor with a constant horizontal force of 350 N for the first 15 m and a coefficient of friction of 0.25 for the next 15 m is 10.458 m/s.
  • #1
Calpalned
297
6

Homework Statement


A 96-kg crate, starting from rest, is pulled across a floor with a constant horizontal force of 350 N. For the first 15 m the floor is frictionless, and for the next 15 m the coefficient of friction is 0.25. What is the final speed of the crate?

Homework Equations


Work energy theorem ##\Delta W = \frac{1}{2}mv_f^2 - \frac{1}{2}mv_0^2 ##

The Attempt at a Solution


- First I'll calculate the speed at the end of the first fifteen meters (when there is no acceleration).
##F \cdot d = (350)(15) = 5250 = ## work
##= \Delta E_k = \frac{1}{2}mv_f^2 - \frac{1}{2}mv_0^2 ##
Because the initial velocity is zero, we see that ## = \frac{1}{2}mv_f^2 ##
##10500 = mv^2 ## so ##v_f = 10.458 ## m/s.

- Now I'll calculate the answer (speed at 30 meters of displacement).
Due to the presence of friction, kinetic and potential energies are not the only energies present.
##E_K + E_P + E_f = ## where the subscript f refers to friction
##\frac{1}{2}mv_0^2+mgh+F_N\mu kl = \frac{1}{2}mv_f^2+mgh+F_N\mu kl ##
##v_0 = 10.458##
##5250+0+0 = \frac {1}{2}mv_f^2 + 0 + 3528 ##
##v_f = 5.98## m/s
The correct answer is twice what I got. What did I do wrong?
 
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  • #2
(There is acceleration during the first 15 m... there is no friction, however.)
During the next 15m, is it still being pulled by that same applied force of 350N?
 
  • #3
Calpalned said:

Homework Statement


A 96-kg crate, starting from rest, is pulled across a floor with a constant horizontal force of 350 N. For the first 15 m the floor is frictionless, and for the next 15 m the coefficient of friction is 0.25. What is the final speed of the crate?

Homework Equations


Work energy theorem ##\Delta W = \frac{1}{2}mv_f^2 - \frac{1}{2}mv_0^2 ##

The Attempt at a Solution


- First I'll calculate the speed at the end of the first fifteen meters (when there is no acceleration).
##F \cdot d = (350)(15) = 5250 = ## work
##= \Delta E_k = \frac{1}{2}mv_f^2 - \frac{1}{2}mv_0^2 ##
Because the initial velocity is zero, we see that ## = \frac{1}{2}mv_f^2 ##
##10500 = mv^2 ## so ##v_f = 10.458 ## m/s.

- Now I'll calculate the answer (speed at 30 meters of displacement).
Due to the presence of friction, kinetic and potential energies are not the only energies present.
##E_K + E_P + E_f = ## where the subscript f refers to friction
##\frac{1}{2}mv_0^2+mgh+F_N\mu kl = \frac{1}{2}mv_f^2+mgh+F_N\mu kl ##
##v_0 = 10.458##
##5250+0+0 = \frac {1}{2}mv_f^2 + 0 + 3528 ##
##v_f = 5.98## m/s
The correct answer is twice what I got. What did I do wrong?

##W = W_1 + W_2 ##

W_1 (first 15 meters) and W_2 (second 15 meters)

## W=\Delta E_K=\frac{1}{2}m v_f^2## (given that v_0 = 0 )

So:

##\frac{1}{2}mv_f^2=W_1 + W_2 = F.d + (F-R).d##

Being ##m=96, F=350, d=15, R=0.25*m*9.8##So you have:

##v_f = \sqrt{\frac{2(2F-R)d}{m}}##
 

1. How is speed related to the work-energy theorem?

The work-energy theorem states that the change in an object's kinetic energy is equal to the net work done on the object. This means that the work done on an object can be used to calculate its change in speed.

2. Can the work-energy theorem be used to find the speed of any object?

Yes, the work-energy theorem can be applied to any object as long as the net work done on the object is known.

3. What is the equation for finding speed using the work-energy theorem?

The equation for finding speed using the work-energy theorem is: v = √(2W/m), where v is the speed, W is the net work done on the object, and m is the mass of the object.

4. How does the work-energy theorem take into account the direction of motion?

The work done on an object is a scalar quantity, meaning it does not have a specific direction. This means that the work-energy theorem does not take into account the direction of motion, and only considers the magnitude of the work done on an object.

5. Can the work-energy theorem be used to find the speed of an object in an inclined plane?

Yes, the work-energy theorem can be applied to objects on an inclined plane. The net work done on the object can be calculated by using the force of gravity and the distance the object moves along the inclined plane, which can then be used to find the object's speed.

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