Coefficient of friction HELP please

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around determining the coefficient of friction for a toy car on inclined plane surfaces as part of an investigative project. Participants are exploring the principles of friction and motion, particularly in relation to inclined planes, without prior instruction on the topic from their teacher.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Problem interpretation, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are attempting to understand how to compute the coefficient of friction and are discussing the forces acting on the toy car, including gravity and normal force. There are inquiries about using kinematics equations and Newton's laws to find acceleration and frictional forces.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants sharing their thoughts on the forces involved and the need for a force diagram. Some guidance has been offered regarding the relationships between forces, but there is no clear consensus or resolution yet.

Contextual Notes

Participants express confusion about the topic and the calculations involved, indicating a lack of prior knowledge and resources. The urgency of their project deadline adds pressure to their exploration.

allelil13
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Homework Statement



We have an investigative project and our group's topic is inclined plane surfaces. I need help in getting the coefficient of friction of the toy car. We will investigate the coefficient of friction of different surfaces. Our teacher didn't (and will never) discuss to us this topic. PLEASE HELP!

ramp1.jpg

Speed of the toy car = 3s

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution

 
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You're going to have to show us that you've given it a go before we help, what do you know about this? Do you have any ideas?
 
JHamm said:
You're going to have to show us that you've given it a go before we help, what do you know about this? Do you have any ideas?

We're actually working already on the Chapter 4 which we need to submit on Wednesday. We just need to compute for the coefficient of friction then we are done.
 
Do you have any idea how you'd compute it?
 
JHamm said:
Do you have any idea how you'd compute it?

No. Not really.. I looked for formulas over the net but it made me more confused.
 
Last edited:
Since you have a distance and a time I'd go for a kinematics equation, for that you'll need to find an expression for the net acceleration of the car along the ramp
 
JHamm said:
Since you have a distance and a time I'd go for a kinematics equation, for that you'll need to find an expression for the net acceleration of the car along the ramp

How will I get that? O.o
I didn't expect coefficient of friction to be this complicated. Gahh..
 
To find acceleration use Newton's second law, what forces act on the car?
 
JHamm said:
To find acceleration use Newton's second law, what forces act on the car?

a = F/m? Idk, gravity? :smile:
 
  • #10

Homework Statement



We have an investigative project and our group's topic is inclined plane surfaces. I need help in getting the coefficient of friction of the toy car. We will investigate the coefficient of friction of different surfaces. Our teacher didn't (and will never) discuss to us this topic. PLEASE HELP!

ramp1.jpg

Speed of the toy car = 3s

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution






Help please! :cry:
 
  • #11
allelil13 said:
a = F/m? Idk, gravity? :smile:

I don't understand it well >>but there is normal force,F gravity and Friction force
 
  • #12
Alaa Mahmoud said:
I don't understand it well >>but there is normal force,F gravity and Friction force

How will I get those?
 
  • #13
Well the frictional force is what you're trying to find so it will just have to be assigned some character [itex]F_{friction}[/itex], now the other force you want to consider is gravity, can you get the component of gravity along the ramp?
 
  • #14
friction force is always to the opposite of motion
we have two component of gravity : gmsinx ... gmcosx
&the normal force :normal to the surface
Then we can use Newton's laws to estimate F(friction)
 
  • #15
allelil13 said:

Homework Statement



We have an investigative project and our group's topic is inclined plane surfaces. I need help in getting the coefficient of friction of the toy car. We will investigate the coefficient of friction of different surfaces. Our teacher didn't (and will never) discuss to us this topic. PLEASE HELP!

ramp1.jpg

Speed of the toy car = 3s

Hi allelil13

Do you know about the relation Ffriction = μN ??

Can you draw all the forces acting on the toy car when placed on a ramp?
 
  • #16
A good textbook should help here.

However if you don't have one you will need to draw a force diagram and write an equation weight of the car down the slope. In a static case where the car is not sliding or rolling the weight down the slope will equal the friction force up the slope. You should be able to rearrnage and find what you need.
 

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