Recent content by chudd88

Thanks for all the help on this. I believe I understand the behavior now mathematically, and it's starting to sink in intuitively as well. I think the behavior I initially showed is reasonably accurate, and represents how friction actually works. It still "feels" a bit odd, but I think I can get...

I think I can reduce my question down to two very simple related questions, which are hopefully simple equations that can be solved. Both questions have the same initial conditions: A 1Kg block is resting on a smooth, flat surface. The block and the surface both have a kinetic coefficient of...

You've said two very interesting things that both seem non-intuitive to me, but if true they would explain the behavior I'm seeing. On your first point, you've said that sideways momentum can be used to go make some forward progress along the Z-axis. That's not the way I picture momentum...

I've probably introduced unnecessary complexity by calling it "Wind", as I didn't intend to introduce issues of wind resistance or anything like that. Instead of wind, call it an additional constant gravitational/magnetic force, which doesn't vary depending on the speed/position of the player...

The video makes complete sense. The major difference (as I see it) between the video and the case I'm describing is the additional of the extra dimension. It makes sense to me that if I'm heading into a strong headwind, I could make some initial progress if I started with some momentum in the...

I was running into some weird behavior in a game (Unity/PhysX), and it got me to wondering whether the behavior was reasonably accurate, or whether it was a bug in the physics simulation. The issue related to friction, in a potentially unrealistic case where Static and Dynamic friction are...

Horizontal with respect to the horiztonal base. So, the weight is directed vertically downward. Some of that weight (wgcosθ) is normal to the plane, while the rest (wgsinθ) is parallel to it. Now, some of that parallel component is directed vertically, and some is directed horizontally. I'm...

I'm working on a problem in which a block sits on an inclined plane of angle @ above the horizontal. Assuming there is no friction, the block will slide down the plane with a force of mg*sin(@). The trouble I'm having is figuring out the horizontal and vertical components of that force...

I may be wrong, but I don't see how it's possible for the tensions to be equal. In addition to the radial acceleration, there is also the vertical weight of the sphere. So, the upper string will be supporting the weight of the sphere, but the bottom string won't. Imagine the system is just...

Perfect. Thank you. That should have been obvious.

Homework Statement Two objects with masses 5.00 kg and 2.00 kg hang 0.600 m above the floor from the ends of a cord 6.0 m long passing over a frictionless pulley. Both objects start from rest. Find the maximum height reached by the 2.00-kg object. Homework Equations I'm baffled. I...

Homework Statement Two ropes are connected to a steel cable that supports a hanging weight as shown. If the maximum tension either rope can sustain without breaking is 5000 N, determine the maximum mass m that the ropes can support. Homework Equations Newton's equations #1, #3...

Picture a helium balloon on a string. I hold one end of the string, and the balloon rises until the string is taut. With the balloon hovering at its location, and with tension on the string, I cut the string near the bottom. The balloon will rise, taking the string with it. So, the question...

Thank you for the advice. My intent was to find the shortest path to being a reasonable applicant for a Masters program. I'm sure it depends on the quality of the university I am aiming for, but my question was essentially whether it's critical to have an Undergrad degree in physics, or...

Hello. Here is a quick summary, made brief only so I don't write up an autobiography. I am 31-years-old, with an undergraduate degree in Philosophy and Computer Science. I took no physics courses in my course work. Since last summer I have been independently studying physics and calculus...