Block sliding Down; find kinetic coefficient

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving a block sliding down an inclined plane. The original poster describes a scenario where a block is at rest on a plank that can be tilted, and the angle is increased until the block begins to slide at 25.7 degrees. The task is to calculate the coefficient of kinetic friction after determining the block's motion down the incline.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the setup of a free body diagram (FBD) to analyze the forces acting on the block, including weight, normal force, and friction. There are attempts to derive equations relating these forces to the acceleration of the block. Some participants express confusion about the calculations and the role of acceleration in determining the coefficient of kinetic friction.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants sharing their reasoning and calculations. There is recognition of potential errors in the approach, and some participants are questioning the values used for acceleration and the resulting coefficient of kinetic friction. Suggestions for further exploration and clarification are being made, but no consensus has been reached on the correct solution.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the problem is due soon, which adds urgency to their discussion. There are mentions of specific values for gravitational acceleration and the angle of the incline, as well as concerns about rounding errors affecting the final results.

cassienoelle
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Homework Statement


A block is at rest on a plank whose angle can be varied. The angle is gradually increased from 0 deg. At 25.7°, the block starts to slide down the incline, traveling 3.50 m down the incline in 1.50 s. Calculate the coefficient of static friction between the block and the plank.
Motion of a block:
4.81×10-1

(THAT WAS THE FIRST PART OF THE QUESTION WHICH I HAVE ALREADY FOUND.)

Part 2:
Calculate the kinetic coefficient of friction between the block and the plank.


Homework Equations


None.


The Attempt at a Solution


not sure how but i keep getting: .21766
 
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cassienoelle said:

Homework Statement


A block is at rest on a plank whose angle can be varied. The angle is gradually increased from 0 deg. At 25.7°, the block starts to slide down the incline, traveling 3.50 m down the incline in 1.50 s. Calculate the coefficient of static friction between the block and the plank.
Motion of a block:
4.81×10-1

(THAT WAS THE FIRST PART OF THE QUESTION WHICH I HAVE ALREADY FOUND.)

Part 2:
Calculate the kinetic coefficient of friction between the block and the plank.


Homework Equations


None.


The Attempt at a Solution


not sure how but i keep getting: .21766
So, first, you have a FBD correct?

I'll assume that you do.

You should have a weight force going down.
A normal force perpendicular to the plank's surface.
And a friction force going the opposite direction of motion, correct?
 
IDk what an FBD even is :(
 
Google it real quick and you should get some good notes on it. :smile:
 
Frozen Beverage Dispenser?!
just kidding. bhaha
Okay a Free Body Diagram. Well mmy professor told me to make one but I don't know how.
But okay, what you said makes sense. A normal force, a weight force and a friction force and then the motion.
 
Right. Now, when you draw your free body diagram, you'll notice that N is slanted in a particular direction.

You can picture the x-y axis as being slightly rotated, that way the N is now directly on the y-axis, and the f force is now directly on the x-axis.

W is now a hypotenuse going down, with an angle between the W and y-axis of 25.7 degrees.

Before I go on, does the way I (tried) to explain the FBD make sense?
 
Everything makes sense excpet where the W goes.
 
Alright, so let me try it a different way.

Consider a normal x-y axis with N going upward directly on the y-axis and the f force going directly on the x-axis.

Now, your W force will be a diagonal line in the 4th quadrant (that is, negative y, positive x).

The angle between W and the y-axis will be 25.7 degrees. Does that make any more sense that way? :smile:
 
That makes much more sense. :)
You're my new best friend.
 
  • #10
But now what? :(
 
  • #11
Haha. Thanks, just here to try to help.

Now, you need to find the sum of the forces in the x-direction.

Well, let's start by figuring out what N will be.

Since N is pointing straight upwards, and by Newton's 3rd law, N - Wcos(theta) = 0, right?

Now, N = Wcos(theta) -> W = mg, so...

N = mg*cos(theta)

f=[itex]\mu[/itex]N -> [itex]\mu[/itex]mg*cos(theta)...[itex]\Sigma[/itex]F[itex]_{x}[/itex] = mg*sin(theta) - [itex]\mu[/itex]mg*cos(theta) = ma[itex]_{x}[/itex]

Correct?

If you see an error in my reasoning, correct me.
 
  • #12
Alright, most of that makes sense. i don't have the acceleration tho to find u?
 
  • #13
And all three masses cancel out right?
 
  • #14
Alright, well, that's what we need to do next. :smile:

And yes, all three masses cancel out.
 
  • #15
Okay. So now we have:
gSin(Theta) - u*g*cos(theta) = a
-->
4.25 - 8.83u = a
 
  • #16
cassienoelle said:
Alright, most of that makes sense. i don't have the acceleration tho to find u?
Consider that the final velocity will be the Delta x / Delta t.

So, Vf = 3.50 m / 1.50 s

Vf = 2.333 m/s


Now, use your kinematic equation...

V[itex]_{f}[/itex]=V[itex]_{i}[/itex]+a*t

V[itex]_{i}[/itex]=0 m/s

Now, solve for a...

a = [itex]\frac{V_{f}}{t}[/itex]

a = [itex]\frac{2.333}{1.50}[/itex]

a = ?


After that, you can solve for uk.
 
  • #17
cassienoelle said:
Okay. So now we have:
gSin(Theta) - u*g*cos(theta) = a
-->
4.25 - 8.83u = a

That looks to be correct.
 
  • #18
it says I'm wrong...
i got a=1.553
so, u should equal .305
...right?
 
  • #19
That should be correct. (Unless we did something wrong in the procedure).
 
  • #20
we must have done something wrong...cuz it says I'm incorrect.
 
  • #21
g is always 9.8 ?
and theta is always 25.7 ?
 
  • #22
cassienoelle said:
g is always 9.8 ?
and theta is always 25.7 ?

g is approximately 9.8 m/s^2

Theta will be 25.7 degrees in this problem.

uk may be .322... or .323. I'm not quite sure right now.
 
  • #23
Then i have no idea what to do. i relooked my math, and it makes sense to me.
 
  • #24
cassienoelle said:
Then i have no idea what to do. i relooked my math, and it makes sense to me.

Maybe you could multiply the 1.553 m/s^2 by cos(25.7). Since a would be a vector, and that would, technically, give you ax.

Try that and see if that works for you. I'm honestly confused.
 
  • #25
Nope.
Dammmmmitt.
 
  • #26
I'm sorry.

I'm honestly stuck on this problem. I think I summed the forces right (since I could solve for us and get the right answer).

But, when it gets to finding the acceleration, I'm confused.

Maybe if I think about it some more...
 
  • #27
Don't be sorry. Cuz I'm juust as lost as you are. The problem isn't due till tomorrow at midnight.
 
  • #28
cassienoelle said:
Don't be sorry. Cuz I'm juust as lost as you are. The problem isn't due till tomorrow at midnight.
No matter how many times I do this problem, I still get .305 as uk...

So, I don't know. Maybe there was a rounding thing that was done somewhere to make it different than .305.
 
  • #29
Well thank you.
If anyone else has any help, please, I'd really appreciate it.
 

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