How Much Power is Needed to Push a Lawnmower at a Constant Speed?

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To determine the power needed to push a 12 kg lawnmower at a constant speed of 1.2 m/s with a handle tilted at 37 degrees and a coefficient of rolling friction of 0.15, the gardener's force must balance the friction force. The friction force is influenced by the mower's weight and the vertical component of the gardener's force. By equating the horizontal component of the gardener's force to the friction force, the formula derived shows that the required force can be calculated using the mass, gravity, and angles involved. Ultimately, the power required is calculated to be approximately 29.91 Watts. This calculation is essential for understanding the energy needed for maintaining constant speed while overcoming friction.
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1)A gardener pushes a 12 kg lawnmower whose handle is tilted up 37 degrees above horizontal. The lawnmower's coefficient of rolling friction is 0.15. How much power does the gardener have to supply to push the lawnmower at a constant speed of 1.2 m/s?


ok so i have tried this problem and still can't seem to get it right..

i am taking power to be equal to the force*velocity so i have been doing this

mass*gravity*cos(37)*friction*velocity=power...i have no idea what else to try. i need some suggestions...

i have tried finding mass*gravity*cos(37) and subtracting if from mass*gravity*friction and then multiplying that number by the velocity and that was wrong to.
 
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xangel31x said:
1)A gardener pushes a 12 kg lawnmower whose handle is tilted up 37 degrees above horizontal. The lawnmower's coefficient of rolling friction is 0.15. How much power does the gardener have to supply to push the lawnmower at a constant speed of 1.2 m/s?
From the problem statement:
{Mower Mass} = M = (12 kg)
{Handle Angle} = θ = (37 deg)
{Coeff Friction} = μ = (0.15)
{Speed} = v = (1.2 m/s)
{Gardener's Force on Mower} = F

Since the mower is moving at constant speed, the horizontal component of the gardener's force must exactly balance the horizontal friction force:
{Friction Force} = F*cos(θ)

The friction force will be derived from the combination of mower's weight and gardener's vertical force component:
{Friction Force} = μ*(M*g + F*sin(θ))

Equating the 2 above equations:
F*cos(θ) = μ*(M*g + F*sin(θ))
::: ⇒ F*cos(θ) = μ*M*g + μ*F*sin(θ)
::: ⇒ F*(cos(θ) - μ*sin(θ)) = μ*M*g
::: ⇒ F = μ*M*g/(cos(θ) - μ*sin(θ))
::: ⇒ F = M*g/(cos(θ)/μ - sin(θ))
::: ⇒ {Power} = F*v = v*M*g/(cos(θ)/μ - sin(θ))
::: ⇒ {Power} = (1.2 m/s)*(12 kg)*(9.81 m/sec^2)/(cos(37 deg)/(0.15) - sin(37 deg))
::: ⇒ {Power} = (29.91 Watts)


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thank you for the help
 
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