Calculating work done - Need help with this problem

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The discussion revolves around calculating the work done on a 12kg box being pulled up a 35-degree incline with a rope at a 20-degree angle, using a tension of 100N and a coefficient of kinetic friction of 0.3. The correct approach for calculating work involves understanding the angles between the forces and displacement, particularly noting that the work done by gravity and normal force is negative due to their perpendicular orientation. The normal force must be calculated by balancing the forces acting on the box, specifically accounting for the components of tension and gravitational force. The work done by friction is determined by the frictional force, which is derived from the normal force and the coefficient of kinetic friction, and it is negative as it opposes the direction of motion. The calculations for work done on each force were clarified and corrected throughout the discussion.
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Homework Statement


A 12kg box is pulled 7m along a 35 degree incline by a person pulling a rope that makes a 20 degree angle with the incline. The tension in the rope is 100N and the coefficient of kinetic friction between the box and incline is 0.3

Calculate the work done by:
(i) Tension in rope
(ii) Gravity
(iii) Friction
(iv) normal force


Homework Equations


Wd = Fcos(angle in degrees) * distance


The Attempt at a Solution


Wd Tension = Tcos(angle) * distance - I'm not sure which angle to use for this one
= 100cos(20) * 7m
Wd gravity = -mgcos(angle) * distance
= - 12kg * 9.8 *cos(35) * 7
wd Friction = coeffiicientKE *mg* cos(angle) * distance
= 0.3 * 12 * 9.8 cos(35) * 7
wd Normal Force = mg cos(angle) * distance
= 12 * 9.8 cos 35 * 7

Is this right. Can anyone verify that it is or make the appropriate corrections please
 
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First one is correct, the rest are wrong.

The angle θ in the formula W = F⋅cos(θ)⋅d is the angle between the force and the displacement. For example, for the second one, if you draw a picture it's pretty easy to see that the angle between the gravity force and the displacement is 90 + 35, so W = F⋅cos (90 + 35)⋅d = mg⋅(-sin(35))⋅d.
 
ok thanks for that.

For the WD due to normal force i have worked out as it is negative to the work done due to gravity. Is that correct?

I'm not too sure how to do work done due to friction. I'm pretty sure it's not simply WDfriction = uk * mg * distance or would it be WDfriction = uk * mg* sin 45.
 
ncondon said:
For the WD due to normal force i have worked out as it is negative to the work done due to gravity. Is that correct?

No. The normal force is perpendicular to the displacement, so θ = 90 and cos(θ) = 0.

ncondon said:
I'm not too sure how to do work done due to friction. I'm pretty sure it's not simply WDfriction = uk * mg * distance or would it be WDfriction = uk * mg* sin 45.

What is the direction of the friction force? Why did you choose θ to be 45?
 
so the work done due to normal foce is 0 then since cos(90) =0?

come to thnk of it the work done due to friction should have been WDfriction = uk * mg * cos(0) therefore it should just simply be WDfriction = uk * mg?
 
ncondon said:
so the work done due to normal foce is 0 then since cos(90) =0?

Yes.

ncondon said:
come to thnk of it the work done due to friction should have been WDfriction = uk * mg * cos(0) therefore it should just simply be WDfriction = uk * mg?

No. What is the magnitude of the normal force? (It's not mg.)
 
well it wouldn't be the 100N from the tension force. other than that I'm not too sure what the normal force would be since i thought it would be mg. since I can't seem to find other information in the question. would the angle have been 0 but
 
or is is -mg?
 
The normal force is the normal (perpendicular) force exerted by the inclined plane on the block, and is perpendicular to the inclined plane. Find the total force on the block due to gravity and tension, and find it's component perpendicular to the inclined plane. Since the block stays on the inclined plane, the normal force must balance this component, and this condition determines the normal force.
 
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  • #10
so to balance the forces out we do the equation:

Fgsin(-35) + Tcos(20) + n = 0
 
  • #11
No, how did you get that? The component of the tension force perpendicular to the incline is Tsin(20), and the component of the weight perpendicular to the incline is -mgcos(35).
 
  • #12
well i have worked n = mgcos(35) - Tsin(20). so is the frictional force * -1.
 
  • #13
oops i meant to say *0.3 then the distance
 
  • #14
Frictional force is normal force times the coefficient of kinetic friction, pointing opposite to the direction of motion.
 
  • #15
Frictonal force = 0.3(mgcos(35) - Tsin(20)) * -1

WdFriction = Frictional force * 7m

Is that right
 
  • #16
Well, the magnitude of the frictional force is just 0.3(mgcos(35) - Tsin(20)) without with -1, but you have to multiply by -1 when you calculate the work because it is pointing opposite to the displacement (cos(180) = -1).
 
  • #17
so eventually i have come up with the right calculations
 
  • #18
Yes.
 

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