How to Find Coefficient of Kinetic Friction?

In summary, the problem involves a man pulling a wagon with an unknown mass up a 50° incline, and the wagon sliding down the incline and then traveling on a horizontal surface before coming to a stop. The coefficient of kinetic friction is needed to solve the problem, and it is assumed to be the same throughout. The problem can be divided into two parts with separate coordinate systems. The speed of the wagon at the bottom of the hill is the same as its starting speed on the horizontal surface. The big picture is that the potential energy at the top of the hill is equal to the work done against friction. The normal force on the hill is not the weight, but the component of weight perpendicular to the hill. A diagram can
  • #1
Physics Girl
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Homework Statement



A man is pulling a wagon up a 50° up a hill. His nephew of in unknown mass sits in the wagon. After pulling the wagon 30 meters up the incline, the man slips and falls releasing the wagon. The sled, starting from rest, slides down the incline. After traveling 30 meters the sled travels 50 meters on a wide open horizontal surface before finally coming to a stop. Assuming the coefficient of friction is the same throughout the entire problem, find the coefficient of kinetic friction. If the coefficient of static friction between the wagon and the ground was twice the coefficient of kinetic friction, would the wagon move at all?

Hint: Treat this as two different parts with two different coordinate systems.

Hint: The speed the wagon reaches at the bottom of the hill is the dame speed the wagon starts with when traveling on the ground.

Homework Equations



Idk?

The Attempt at a Solution



I don't know where to start on this problem :confused:. Can you guys help at all?
 
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  • #2
Wow, an interesting one! Welcome to PF, Physics Girl.
I'm still wondering if it is a wagon or a sled.
It is clearly an energy problem because of the PE and friction.
The big picture is
PE at the top of the hill = work done against friction
and there is the friction going down the hill and the friction along the flat to be done separately. Each is basically a W = F*d. The F is the force of friction. On the hill, the normal force is not the weight, but the component of weight pushing normal (perpendicular) to the hill.
See what you can do with it; start with the big picture and fill in the details! You will certainly need a diagram of the hill - put the mass right at the top; makes it easier to draw the mg down and show its normal and parallel components forming a triangle with the full mg.
 

1. What are the three laws of motion?

The three laws of motion, also known as Newton's Laws, are fundamental principles that describe the behavior of objects in motion. The first law states that an object at rest will remain at rest, and an object in motion will continue in motion with a constant velocity unless acted upon by an external force. The second law states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass. The third law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

2. What is the difference between mass and weight?

Mass is a measure of the amount of matter an object contains, while weight is a measure of the force of gravity acting on an object. Mass is measured in kilograms (kg) and is constant regardless of an object's location, while weight is measured in newtons (N) and can vary depending on the strength of the gravitational force.

3. How are forces represented and measured?

Forces are represented by arrows, with the length and direction of the arrow indicating the strength and direction of the force. The unit of measurement for force is the newton (N), which is equivalent to 1 kg*m/s^2. Forces can be measured using a spring scale or a force meter.

4. What is the difference between static and kinetic friction?

Static friction is the force that prevents two surfaces from sliding past each other when there is no motion. It is always equal in magnitude to the applied force and acts in the opposite direction. Kinetic friction, on the other hand, is the force that acts between two surfaces in motion and opposes the direction of motion. It is typically slightly less than static friction.

5. How do Newton's laws apply to real-life situations?

Newton's laws can be applied to a wide range of real-life situations, from the movement of objects on Earth to the motion of celestial bodies in space. For example, the first law explains why objects tend to stay at rest or in motion unless acted upon by an external force, such as a ball rolling down a hill or a rocket traveling through space. The second law can be seen in action when a car accelerates or brakes, and the third law is demonstrated when a swimmer pushes off the wall of a pool to propel themselves forward.

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