Calculating Friction Force for Sliding Book

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the friction force acting on a sliding book, with a focus on the forces involved, the coefficient of kinetic friction, and the effects of mass on stopping distance. The problem involves a 1.2 kg book sliding across a table after being pushed.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss calculating acceleration and friction force, with some suggesting using energy concepts to relate kinetic energy and work done by friction. Questions arise about the relationship between friction force and normal force, as well as the implications of mass on stopping distance.

Discussion Status

Several participants have provided calculations for acceleration and friction force, with some expressing uncertainty about their methods. There is an ongoing exploration of how mass affects the stopping distance, with participants questioning whether the friction force is proportional to mass.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the need for clarity on assumptions regarding forces acting on the book, particularly the cancellation of gravitational and normal forces. There is also mention of the need to explain the relationship between mass and friction in the context of the problem.

Fusilli_Jerry89
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I don't know if anyone solves physics problems here, but I havn't done this in over a year and can't concentrate right now so I need help.

A 1.2 kg book is given a shove at 2.0 m/s. It slides across the table coming to a stop ).67 metres later. a) what is the magnitude of the force that stops the book? b) What is the coefficient of kinetic friction between the book and table and c) If released at the same speed, would a heavier book slide the same distance? Explain

for C i think yes because even though there is more force moving, for friction will be acting against it.
for b I got 0.3 by dividing the acceleration(-3.0) by (-9.8), I am unsure how to get a though.
 
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Not 100% sure but i think this is how its done

for part a) first calculate the acceleration the book undergoes
which i get to equal -2.99 m/s^2. The only forces acting on the object is the force of friction whereas gravitational force and normal force cancel out. so Ff = mass * (acceleration) thus (1.2) * (2.99) = 3.59 N
 
Fusilli_Jerry89 said:
A 1.2 kg book is given a shove at 2.0 m/s. It slides across the table coming to a stop ).67 metres later. a) what is the magnitude of the force that stops the book?
a) You can use energy. What is the kinetic energy of the book after being shoved and traveling at 2.0 m/sec? All of that energy is used doing friction work (ie. KE = friction force x distance).

Or you can simply find the rate of deceleration and multiply by the mass. Your answer of 3.0 m/sec^2 for deceleration is correct.

b) What is the coefficient of kinetic friction between the book and table.
for b I got 0.3 by dividing the acceleration(-3.0) by (-9.8), I am unsure how to get a though
b) You know the magnitude of the friction force from a). How is this force related to the normal force (mg) and the coefficient of kinetic friction [itex]\mu_k[/itex]?
and c) If released at the same speed, would a heavier book slide the same distance? Explain

for C i think yes because even though there is more force moving, for friction will be acting against it.
You have to explain this. You need to show that if the force of friction is proportional to the object's mass, the stopping distance for objects of different mass will be the same. Is the friction force proportional to the object's mass? Why?

AM
 
quickslant said:
Not 100% sure but i think this is how its done

for part a) first calculate the acceleration the book undergoes
which i get to equal -2.99 m/s^2. The only forces acting on the object is the force of friction whereas gravitational force and normal force cancel out. so Ff = mass * (acceleration) thus (1.2) * (2.99) = 3.59 N

This is right. To calculate the acceleration that he got use v^2 = v0^2 + 2a(x-x0). You know v=2.0 m/s v0 = 0 (initially at rest, the book had to be pushed), a = what you are solving for, and x = 0.67 m x0 = 0. So... a = ?. Then use the equation that he mentioned and you got the force.
 

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