Calculate the horizontal speed of the box as it falls

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AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the horizontal speed of a box as it falls, with the initial answer provided as 71.96875 N. The user, Paige, initially miscalculates the horizontal distance and speed, leading to confusion about the correct approach. After recalculating with the correct horizontal distance of 7.5 m, Paige finds the horizontal speed to be 4.613 m/s. The conversation highlights the importance of accurately determining acceleration and net force, ultimately leading to a corrected acceleration value of 1.733 m/s² and a net force calculation of 18.7164 N. The thread concludes with expressions of gratitude for assistance in resolving the calculations.
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We were given the answer to this puzzler and its 71.96875 N
 
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What I did...

I will show you what I did and then can you please tell me what I'm doing wrong.

Consider Vertical:
¥Äx= -12.96 m
Vo= 0 m/s
a= -9.80 m/s
v= ?
t =?

v©÷ = vo©÷ + 2a¥Äx
v©÷ = 0 + 2a¥Äx
= 2a¥Äx
= 2(-9.80)(-12.96)
= 254.016
= ¡î254.016
=15.93 m/s

v = vo + at
15.93 = 0 + (-9.80)t
t= 1.626

Consider horizontal
¥Äx = 7.5 + 5= 12.5 m
t = 1.626 s
v= ?
¥Äx = vt
v= ¥Äx/t
= 7.688 m/s

What do I do from here and is this really right?
 
The equations in the last one are a little wack. sorry...
© = squared
¥Äx= delta x
 
Last edited:


Originally posted by paigegail

Consider horizontal
¥Äx = 7.5 + 5= 12.5 m
You calculated the time to fall correctly. But you are using the wrong horizontal distance to calculate the horizontal speed of the box as it falls:

distance = 7.5m (do not add the distance the box was pushed!)
 
Ok...
so I got vx to be 4.613 m/s. Then I use Pythagoras to find the velocity (vy-squared- + vx-squared- = v-squared) and I got it to be 16.59. Then to find acceleration I went:
a= V/t
= 10.20 m/s-squared-

Am I going right...because then I get F= ma
F= 10.8 (10.20)
=110.19 N

I don't think that's right...


By the way...Thanks for all of your help!

Oh and do you have a messenger system of some sort because that would make this much easier.
 
At the moment the box leaves the cliff, Vy = 0. The only speed is horizontal, which you just calculated: Vx.

So now attack the first part of the motion: the box being pushed along the ground. Tell us everything you know about that segment of the motion, from initial push until the box sails off the cliff.
 
Delta X = 5.0 m
Vx= 4.613 m/s
t =?

Delta X = Vx(t)
t= delta x/ vx
= 5/4.613
= 1.083 s

So do I add 1.083 to the previously establish 1.626 and then get 2.709 for total time?
 
Ok...so I have that. But what is SOOOOO EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING...IS WHAT DO I DO AFTER I HAVE ALL THAT! The acceleration becomes 0.4163 m/s-squared-. F= ma... that makes is 10.8(0.4163)=4.49604 N that's no where near the answer.
 
Originally posted by paigegail
Ok...so I have that. But what is SOOOOO EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING...IS WHAT DO I DO AFTER I HAVE ALL THAT! The acceleration becomes 0.4163 m/s-squared-. F= ma... that makes is 10.8(0.4163)=4.49604 N that's no where near the answer.
Relax...

First step is to calculate the acceleration properly. I don't think you did. Tell us how you did it.

Once you find the acceleration, then apply F=ma properly. What are all the forces acting on the box?
 
  • #10
K...I found acceleration wrong. I realized that.
Acceleration = 1.733 m/s -squared-

So then do I go F=ma
F= 10.8 (1.733)
= 18.7164

So is that Fnet? If it is...then what?
 
  • #11
Originally posted by paigegail
K...I found acceleration wrong. I realized that.
Acceleration = 1.733 m/s -squared-
How did you calculate the acceleration?
 
  • #12
v-squared- = vo-squared- + 2aDelta X
4.163 -squared- = 0 + 2(5)a
17.330569 =10a
a=1.733
 
  • #13
How did you get that for acceleration?
 
  • #14
Originally posted by paigegail
v-squared- = vo-squared- + 2aDelta X
4.163 -squared- = 0 + 2(5)a
17.330569 =10a
a=1.733
You have a typo: the value for v is not 4.16, it's 4.61.
 
  • #15
Thank you soooooooooooooo much for everything! OMG THIS WAS SOOO FRUSTRATING. But thank you sooooo much!


-Paige
 
  • #16
Are we done?
 
  • #17
YES! And I really have to thank you for being patient with my annoyance. I was a little bit annoying and I know it. So thanx.

-Paige
 
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