Calculating Time Needed for Box to Stop Sliding Down Slope

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving a box sliding down a slope with an angle of 30 degrees and an initial velocity of zero. The coefficient of friction is defined as a function of distance covered, complicating the calculation of the time required for the box to stop.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the relationship between forces acting on the box, including gravitational force and friction. There are attempts to derive equations for acceleration and velocity, with some participants questioning the validity of certain assumptions regarding when the box will stop.

Discussion Status

There is an ongoing exploration of the equations of motion and the implications of changing acceleration. Some participants have offered insights into potential substitutions and relationships to simple harmonic motion, while others express uncertainty about how to proceed without knowing certain variables.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the complexity introduced by the friction coefficient being a function of distance, which affects the acceleration and consequently the time calculation. There is also mention of the participants' varying levels of familiarity with the concepts involved, particularly regarding simple harmonic motion.

crom1
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Box is sliding down the slope with angle 30 , and v_0=0. Because coefficient of friction is $$\mu=0.1x$$ where x is distance covered, the box will stop before reaching the end of a slope. Find the time needed for a box to stop.

I get $$F_1=G \sin \alpha , F_{fr} = \mu \cdot G \cos \alpha$$ and the box will stop when $$F_1 = F_{fr}$$ , that is x=5.77. Ok, so I think I got the distance x, but I have no idea how to find time t. Acceleration is obviously changing, and because of that I'm not sure what formulas can I use, also I have acceleration a as linear function of x (not t) , I tried with some integrating but didn't lead me no where (I was probably going in circles there).
Any hint on how to find time t?
 
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crom1 said:
, I tried with some integrating but didn't lead me no where (I was probably going in circles there).
That should be the way to go. Please post your working.
 
crom1 said:
and the box will stop when ##F_1 = F_{fr}##
No, think about that again.
 
If the part with F_1=F_{fr} is wrong, I don't think there's a point in posting my working before I realize when will the box stop. Hmm, can you show mistake in my reasoning?
Since v_0=0 , the box will stop when v=0 , and v depends on acceleration, so acceleration has to be 0 , so F{res}/m=0 , and F_1=F_{fr} .
 
crom1 said:
If the part with F_1=F_{fr} is wrong, I don't think there's a point in posting my working before I realize when will the box stop. Hmm, can you show mistake in my reasoning?
Since v_0=0 , the box will stop when v=0 , and v depends on acceleration, so acceleration has to be 0 , so F{res}/m=0 , and F_1=F_{fr} .
Yes, acceleration will be zero when the two forces are equal, but what does that tell you about the velocity?
 
velocity won't change, and acceleration has to be negative in order to v be 0 at some moment?
Okay, but how do I calculate velocity when acceleration is changing and I don't have velocity in terms of t ? I tried something like this:

$$ a=g \sin \alpha - \mu g \cos \alpha = g \sin \alpha-0.1 g \cos \alpha x = -cx+d $$
$$ \frac{dv}{dt} = -cx+d $$
$$ \frac{dv}{-cx+d}= dt \Rightarrow t= \frac{v}{-cx+d} $$ but doesn't work
 
crom1 said:
$$ \frac{dv}{dt} = -cx+d $$
Right. You don't recognise that equation? What if you write that in terms of ##\ddot x##? You can get rid of the d by a simple change of variable.
 
I'm currently learning this on my own, so I might miss some obvious and basic stuff. Do you mean like this

$$ \frac{d^2x}{dt^2}= -cx+d $$ (Did you meant some kind of substitution y=x-d/c or? )

EDIT: I did get t=-1/c ln|-cx+d| but I don't have x so that probably not good...
 
Last edited:
crom1 said:
(Did you meant some kind of substitution y=x-d/c or? )
Yes, exactly that.
What do you know about SHM?
 
  • #10
Simple harmonic motion? Yes, I see that this is the same type of equation. We didn't yet talked about harmonic motion in my physics course (We did in high school but on that level) so don't be suprised by my ignorance :D , but one more question : when I get x in terms of t, how should I find t when I don't know x?
Or how do I find x?
 
  • #11
crom1 said:
Simple harmonic motion? Yes, I see that this is the same type of equation. We didn't yet talked about harmonic motion in my physics course (We did in high school but on that level) so don't be suprised by my ignorance :D , but one more question : when I get x in terms of t, how should I find t when I don't know x?
Or how do I find x?
You can find x without invoking SHM. You only need SHM for the time. Consider work.
Or, using the SHM solution, you can use the initial velocity as the boundary condition.
 

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