Calculating Acceleration of a Cyclist on a Starting Ramp

AI Thread Summary
To calculate the acceleration of a cyclist on a starting ramp, the key factor is the gravitational force acting down the ramp. The ramp's dimensions are 1.5m high and 12m long, and the cyclist starts from rest, ignoring friction. The cyclist's acceleration can be determined by resolving the gravitational force into its component along the ramp. Understanding vector resolution is crucial for this calculation, as it helps in determining the effective acceleration down the ramp. Further questions regarding friction and time to reach the bottom can be explored once the basic acceleration is established.
jaron
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greetings all

here is my question:
Starting from rest, a cyclist coasts down the starting ramp at a professional biking track. if the ramp has the minimum legal dimensions (1.5m high and 12m long), find the acceleration of the cyclist, ignoring friction.

i am having a hard time figuring this out. i use the pathagorus theorum to get the length of my track, 12.1m (also the hypoteneuse) but after that i am lost.
the only force i know is gravity. am i missing something here?
 
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jaron said:
greetings all

here is my question:
Starting from rest, a cyclist coasts down the starting ramp at a professional biking track. if the ramp has the minimum legal dimensions (1.5m high and 12m long), find the acceleration of the cyclist, ignoring friction.

i am having a hard time figuring this out. i use the pathagorus theorum to get the length of my track, 12.1m (also the hypoteneuse) but after that i am lost.
the only force i know is gravity. am i missing something here?
HINT: What is/are the force(s) acting on the bike?

Edit: Ahh, after re-reading your post I see that you have already figured out that the only [net] force acting is that of gravity. So, the only force that is going to make the bike accelerate is gravity.

What is the component of the gravitational acceleration acting down the ramp?
 
Last edited:
thats just it. it doesn't say.

there is a part b and c to the question but they don't seem pertinent to a
(but i will give them to you now anyways, maybe they are)

b) the acceleration of the cyclist if all sources of friction yeild an effective coefficient of friction of 0.11

c) the time taken to reach the bottom of the ramp, if friction acts as in b
 
jaron said:
thats just it. it doesn't say.
Can you work out the component of the acceleration down the ramp?

Do you know how to resolve vectors into their components?
 
Hootenanny said:
Do you know how to resolve vectors into their components?

i don't think i do.
what does it entail?
 
Maybe this will help?
http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/Phys/Class/vectors/u3l3e.html
 
Last edited by a moderator:
that helps a lot. thank you.
 

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