Calculating Mass Sliding on a Slope

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a 15 kg mass sliding down a slope and then encountering a rough horizontal stretch. The mass starts with an initial speed of 30 m/s and descends 60 m without friction before facing a frictional force of 80 N on the horizontal stretch. The objective is to calculate the velocity at various points along the horizontal stretch and determine where the mass comes to a stop.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the conservation of energy as a potential approach to solve for the velocities. Questions arise about the initial conditions for calculating velocities at different points along the horizontal stretch and the role of friction in the energy equations.

Discussion Status

Some participants have identified the conservation of energy as a key principle in the problem. There is ongoing exploration of the relationship between potential and kinetic energy, and how to apply these concepts to the different segments of the motion. Guidance has been offered regarding the formulation of energy equations, but no consensus on the next steps has been reached.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the formulas needed for calculations and the implications of friction on the energy balance. There is a mention of using gravitational potential energy at the lowest point as a reference.

hodgepodge
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Homework Statement



A 15 kg mass is sliding at 30 m/s when it encounters a slope (smooth=no friction) and descends 60 m. It encounters a horizontal rough stretch (friction = 80N in opp. direction). Calculate the velocity at x=0 (rough stretch starts here), x=50, x=100, x=200. Calculate where it comes to a stop.

MASS
_______
h =60m \
...\friction = 80N for horizontal line only (indicated by ~)
....\~~~~~~~~~~
.....x=0 x= 50...
 
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What are your thoughts on the problem?
 
i do not know how to do the sliding part to get the initial speed, but i think from x=0 i would use w=K final- K initial, which would be (friction x m x g)x= 1/2 x mass x final velocity -1/2 x mass x initial velocity

also, when i calculate the velocity for x=50, do i use the final velocity for x=0 for the initial velocity for x=50, or do i use the velocity from when it came down the slope for initial velocity for x=50
 
Last edited:
Let's stick to the first question initially. Can you think of some quantity that will be conserved whilst the block is sliding down the slope?
 
i guess energy would be conserved

this would be easrier but i have a lack of formulas
 
hodgepodge said:
i guess energy would be conserved

this would be easrier but i have a lack of formulas
That would be correct. Hopefully, the formulas will come to you as we talk though it.

What two forms of energy are involved in the block sliding down the slope?
 
kinetic and potential
 
hodgepodge said:
kinetic and potential
Good. So you know that the sum of the potential and kinetic energy at the top and the bottom of the slope must be equal.

What is the value of the total energy at the top of the slope?
 
Total energy = PE + KE
TE = mgh+1/2 x m x v squared
TE= 9000+6750
TE=15750

i used g=10
 
  • #10
now wat?
 
  • #11
can anybody help with this?
 
  • #12
As you know energy is conserved.

[tex]E_{total\ before}=E_{total\ after}[/tex]

[tex]Eg1+Ek1+Et=Eg2+Ek2[/tex]

[tex]mgh_{1}+\frac{1}{2}mv_{1}^2-F_{f} \triangle d = mgh_{2} +\frac{1}{2}mv_{2}^2[/tex]

always make the lowest point have a gravitational energy of zero
 
  • #13
wat is Ff change in d?
 
  • #14
Ff (80N) is the force in friction and Change in d is x
 
  • #15
thank you so much bright wang
 

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