A box of mass 8.0kg is being dragged along the ground by a force of 30N.

AI Thread Summary
A box with a mass of 8.0 kg is being dragged by a force of 30 N, with a friction force of 26 N resulting in an acceleration of 0.5 m/s². If the frictional force is one-quarter of the normal reaction force, which is calculated to be 78.48 N, the effective force becomes 10.38 N, leading to an acceleration of 1.3 m/s². The normal reaction force is essential for determining the frictional force in this context. The calculations confirm that both scenarios yield correct results.
looi76
Messages
80
Reaction score
0
[SOLVED] A box of mass 8.0kg is being dragged along the ground by a force of 30N.

Homework Statement


A box of mass 8.0kg is being dragged along the ground by a force of 30N.
(a) If the friction force is 26N what is the resulting acceleration?
(b) If the frictional force is one-quarter of the normal reaction force, what is the acceleration?

Homework Equations


F = m.a

The Attempt at a Solution



(a) m = 8.0kg \ , \ F = 30N

F = 30 - 26 = 4N

F = m.a

a = \frac{F}{m} = \frac{4}{8} = 0.5ms^{-2}

(b) m = 8.0kg , \ , F = 30 \times \frac{3}{4} = 22.5N

a = \frac{F}{m} = \frac{22.5}{8.0} = 2.8ms^{-2}

Are any answers correct?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
looi76 said:

Homework Statement


A box of mass 8.0kg is being dragged along the ground by a force of 30N.
(a) If the friction force is 26N what is the resulting acceleration?
(b) If the frictional force is one-quarter of the normal reaction force, what is the acceleration?

Homework Equations


F = m.a

The Attempt at a Solution



(a) m = 8.0kg \ , \ F = 30N

F = 30 - 26 = 4N

F = m.a

a = \frac{F}{m} = \frac{4}{8} = 0.5ms^{-2}
Correct :approve:
looi76 said:
(b) m = 8.0kg , \ , F = 30 \times \frac{3}{4} = 22.5N

a = \frac{F}{m} = \frac{22.5}{8.0} = 2.8ms^{-2}
Careful here, notice what the question says:
looi76 said:
If the frictional force is one-quarter of the normal reaction force, what is the acceleration?
 
Thnx Hootenanny,

Normal Reaction Force = 4N

m = 8.0kg \ , \ F = 4 \times \frac{3}{4} = 3N

F = m.a

a = \frac{F}{m} = \frac{3}{8} = 0.4 ms^{-2}

I don't thinks its correct, can you please explain?

By Normal reaction force, it means the reaction without the friction?
 
looi76 said:
By Normal reaction force, it means the reaction without the friction?
No, the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normal_force" is the force which acts on the box and is normal to the surface. It is the force which prevents the box from entering the surface.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I understood what normal reaction force means, but tell now I don't know how to calculate it. Can you please show me an example or explain?

Thanks...
 
looi76 said:
I understood what normal reaction force means, but tell now I don't know how to calculate it. Can you please show me an example or explain?
Consider your example, what are all the forcing acting in the vertical plane?
 
Forces acting on the vertical plane are 30N and 26N
 
looi76 said:
Forces acting on the vertical plane are 30N and 26N
No, they are the forces acting on the horizontal plane. What are the forces acting in the vertical plane, i.e. in the 'up and down' direction?
 
F = m.a

m = 8.0kg \ , \ a = g(gravity) = 9.81ms^{-2}

F = 8.0 \times 9.81

F = 78.5N

So, the normal reaction force is 78.5N ?
 
  • #10
looi76 said:
F = m.a

m = 8.0kg \ , \ a = g(gravity) = 9.81ms^{-2}

F = 8.0 \times 9.81

F = 78.5N

So, the normal reaction force is 78.5N ?

Correct :approve:

Personally I would leave it as 78.48 N to prevent rounding errors later on.
 
  • #11
Thnx Hootenanny, So answer (b) would be:

F = m.a

F = 30 - \left(\frac{1}{4} \times 78.48\right) = 10.38N \ , \ m = 8.0kg

a = \frac{F}{m} = \frac{10.38}{8.0} = 1.3ms^{-2}

correct?
 
  • #12
looi76 said:
Thnx Hootenanny, So answer (b) would be:

F = m.a

F = 30 - \left(\frac{1}{4} \times 78.48\right) = 10.38N \ , \ m = 8.0kg

a = \frac{F}{m} = \frac{10.38}{8.0} = 1.3ms^{-2}

correct?

Correct indeed :approve:
 
Back
Top