Calculating the Force Needed to Push a Sofa Up an Inclined Plane

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the force required to push a 1,500-N sofa up a frictionless ramp inclined at 30°. Participants are exploring the dynamics involved in this scenario, particularly focusing on the application of Newton's laws of motion.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are questioning whether the sofa needs to be accelerated or if it can be pushed at a constant velocity. There is also a discussion about the distinction between mass and weight, and the correct application of Newton's Second Law to find acceleration.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants providing guidance on the need to consider all forces acting on the sofa and the importance of drawing a free body diagram. There is an emphasis on clarifying assumptions and ensuring the correct application of relevant physics principles.

Contextual Notes

Participants are addressing the potential confusion between mass and weight, as well as the implications of frictionless conditions in the problem setup.

aesoccer11

Homework Statement


  1. Suppose you needed to push a 1,500-N sofa up a frictionless ramp with a 30° angle. How much force would you have to apply to the sofa?

Homework Equations


f=ma

The Attempt at a Solution


I know that to find force you need to use the equation f=ma but I am not sure how I would go about finding the acceleration to do this problem. I know that the mass is 1,500 N.
 
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Do you need to accelerate the sofa or is it sufficient to push it up with constant velocity? What forces apart from your pushing force act on the sofa?

aesoccer11 said:
I know that the mass is 1,500 N.
Do not confuse mass with weight. Mass is measured in kg or other units of mass. Weight is measured in units of force such as N.
 
Would using Newton's Second Law to find acceleration be appropriate?
ax=-gsinθ
ax= (-9.81) sin(30)
ax= 4.91 m/s^2
 
That formula for acceleration is not correct unless there is no other force (such as your push) is acting on the sofa, other than gravity, and there is no friction. The question by Orodruin is the relevant one. You should specify all the forces, draw a free body diagram, and then use Newton's second law.
 

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