Calculating Force for Two Boxes Dragged on a Frictionless Surface

  • Thread starter Thread starter PinguNinjitsu
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Force
AI Thread Summary
To calculate the force required to drag two 103 kg boxes and two 1.03 kg ropes on a frictionless surface with a constant acceleration of 1.19 m/s², the total mass must be considered. The mass of the ropes does matter since they are being accelerated along with the boxes. The correct approach is to sum the masses of the boxes and ropes, then apply the formula F = ma. This results in treating the entire system as one combined mass for the force calculation. Understanding this concept is crucial for solving similar physics problems effectively.
PinguNinjitsu
Messages
9
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


Two 103 kg boxes are dragged along a fric-
tionless surface with a constant acceleration
of 1.19 m/s2, as shown in the figure.
Each rope has a mass of 1.03 kg.

m8e8ls.jpg


Homework Equations


F=ma

The Attempt at a Solution


I wasn't sure where to go with this problem. I am mostly just wondering if the weight of the rope matters at all. I don't think I have ever come across a problem where the rope had a weight. Also just to make sure I'm thinking this through the right way, if the weight of the rope doesn't matter I would just act as the masses as one and then from the force from there? I'm not sure if that is right, I haven't been in a Physics class in 2 or 3 years so I'm a little rusty. Any help would be great! Thanks
 
Physics news on Phys.org
PinguNinjitsu said:

Homework Statement


Two 103 kg boxes are dragged along a fric-
tionless surface with a constant acceleration
of 1.19 m/s2, as shown in the figure.
Each rope has a mass of 1.03 kg.

m8e8ls.jpg


Homework Equations


F=ma


The Attempt at a Solution


I wasn't sure where to go with this problem. I am mostly just wondering if the weight of the rope matters at all. I don't think I have ever come across a problem where the rope had a weight. Also just to make sure I'm thinking this through the right way, if the weight of the rope doesn't matter I would just act as the masses as one and then from the force from there? I'm not sure if that is right, I haven't been in a Physics class in 2 or 3 years so I'm a little rusty. Any help would be great! Thanks
Well, if you are accelerating the rope along with the boxes, yes, its mass will matter (not weight, mass because this is horizontal motion and gravity doesn't enter into it). Just add all masses, both boxes and ropes, together and multiply by the acceleration: F= ma.
 
Hello.

Try to think of the boxes as one. Combine the masses since there is no friction.
Think of it as one mass.
 
WOW! that reply came just as i wrote mine. haha
 
Thank you! Thats what I was thinking I was supposed to do, just wanted to make sure!
 
Thread 'Voltmeter readings for this circuit with switches'

Thread 'Voltmeter readings for this circuit with switches'

TL;DR Summary: I would like to know the voltmeter readings on the two resistors separately in the picture in the following cases , When one of the keys is closed When both of them are opened (Knowing that the battery has negligible internal resistance) My thoughts for the first case , one of them must be 12 volt while the other is 0 The second case we'll I think both voltmeter readings should be 12 volt since they are both parallel to the battery and they involve the key within what the...
View full post »
Thread 'Trying to understand the logic behind adding vectors with an angle between them'

Thread 'Trying to understand the logic behind adding vectors with an angle between them'

My initial calculation was to subtract V1 from V2 to show that from the perspective of the second aircraft the first one is -300km/h. So i checked with ChatGPT and it said I cant just subtract them because I have an angle between them. So I dont understand the reasoning of it. Like why should a velocity be dependent on an angle? I was thinking about how it would look like if the planes where parallel to each other, and then how it look like if one is turning away and I dont see it. Since...
View full post »

Similar threads

Newton's Second Law (Pulley Sustem)
Replies
3
Views
2K
Newton's law problem: Helicopter lifting a box with a rope
Replies
5
Views
3K
Question about Momentum and torque
Replies
10
Views
975
Drone dragging a hose behind it
Replies
24
Views
1K
Calculating acceleration of a prism and block connected to a wall through a rope and pulley
Replies
4
Views
447
Two Questions on Newton Law Problems
Replies
5
Views
2K
Finding the Mass of a Hanging Rope (Wave Problem)
Replies
4
Views
2K
Forces acting on a box-pulley system in an elevator?
Replies
33
Views
7K
Problem with pulleys - two fixed and one movable
Replies
22
Views
469
Tension in the wire connecting two blocks
Replies
5
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top