A box slides down with initial V, force needed to stop it?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the force needed to stop a box sliding down a ramp with an initial velocity of 5 m/s. The forces acting on the box include a weight component, friction, and an applied force, leading to a net force calculation of 5.25 N required to halt the box. Participants express confusion over the problem statement's clarity and the duration of the applied force. There is also a suggestion that the problem creator may have made a sign error, affecting the final calculations. Overall, the consensus is that the calculations appear correct, but the problem's wording needs improvement for clarity.
Hilmy atha
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Homework Statement


20170329_204509_zpssbxpjqdm.jpg

Vo = 5m/s
W to the left = 6N
Ffriction = 2N
F to the left = W - Friction = 4 N
m = 1kg
g = 10 m/s^2

Ramp length = 10m
sin a = 3/5
cos a = 4/5

Homework Equations


F = ma
Vt ^2 = Vo^2 + 2as
Vt = Vo + at

The Attempt at a Solution


Outside force (1) to cancel acceleration from weight
= 4N
So now a = 0

Now we calculate how much decceleration is need to stop the initial 5m/s
Vt ^2 = Vo ^2 + 2as
0 = 25 + 20a
a = 1,25 decceleratiom from outside force (2)
F2 = m.a = 1.25 N
So F1(to cancel initail acceleration) + F2(to cancel initial velocity) = 4 + 1.25 = 5.25N

Is there something wrong? The answer is not in the options :/
 
Last edited:
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Wait why didn't the image shows up? It can't show images from google drive?
 
Hilmy atha said:
Wait why didn't the image shows up? It can't show images from google drive?
If the image isn't public access the software can't get to it. It's better to UPLOAD images to our server.
 
Hi. Welcome to Physics Forums.
Hilmy atha said:
W to the left = 4 N
Where did this come from? Is it part of the problem statement?
 
Okay i updated it
 
Can you provide a translation of the problem statement? It's not obvious how long the force is allowed to operate on the block. Is it applied during the entire motion?
 
Hilmy atha said:
F to the left = W - Friction = 4 N
Hilmy atha said:
F2 = m.a = 1.25 N
So you need 4 N (in addition to the 2 N friction force) to counter the down-the-slope weight component.
And you need 1.25 N to produce an up-the-slope acceleration.
4 + 1.25 = 5.25 N.
I can't find anything wrong with that. But it is early in the morning for me. :)
Possibly the problem creator had a sign error and came up with 4 - 1.25 = 2.75 (which rounds to 2.8)

In response go @gneill comment (which just came through), I assumed the force was applied for the entire 10 m of the slope.
 
gneill said:
Can you provide a translation of the problem statement? It's not obvious how long the force is allowed to operate on the block. Is it applied during the entire motion?

It is not mentioned at all. Everything i typed is basically the translation in math equations
 
I typed the words into Google translate and the relevant part of the translation was:
"so that the right thing stopping at the bottom end of the track"

Per my previous post, I think your answer is correct.
 
  • #10
Hilmy atha said:
It is not mentioned at all. Everything i typed is basically the translation in math equations
In future please make sure that the problem has been described in English in the problem statement section. Translations of relevant material in images is fine. Note that this is a forum rule.
 
  • #11
Your answer may end up closer to 5.0 N if you use a more accurate value for g.
 
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