Coefficient of kinetic friction on hockey puck

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the coefficient of kinetic friction for a hockey puck sliding on ice. The problem involves determining the average value of the coefficient based on the puck's initial speed and the distance it slides before stopping.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss using kinematic equations to find acceleration and relate it to friction. There are questions about the cancellation of mass in the equations and the correct application of the formulas.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided alternative approaches and equations to derive the coefficient of kinetic friction. There is an ongoing exploration of the relationships between acceleration, friction, and the forces acting on the puck, with no explicit consensus reached yet.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating the constraints of the problem, including the need to avoid providing complete solutions while still guiding understanding. There is an emphasis on ensuring that the learning process is prioritized over simply arriving at the answer.

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The way I approached the problem I found acceleration using V^2=vo^2 + 2ax. Then I set uk*mg = ma. The masses cancel... so its uk*g = a. I keep getting the wrong answer. What am I doing wrong?




Homework Statement



A hockey puck on a frozen pond with an initial speed of 22.3 m/s stops after sliding a distance of 249.3 m. Calculate the average value of the coefficient of kinetic friction between the puck and the ice.

Homework Equations



uk*m*g = ma

The Attempt at a Solution



0.0093
 
Last edited:
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I know the masses cancel... What am I missing?
 
How did you work out the acceleration?
 
0 = 22.3 ^2 + 2 * a * 249.3

and i solved for a
 
Ok. Now you know the masses cancel, which leaves you with:

\mu_k = \frac{a}{g}

What do you get for your answer, knowing that g is the acceleration due to gravity?
 
Try this:

1 ∑F_{x}=-f_{k}=ma_{x}
2 ∑F_{y}=n-mg=0
note: n=mg becomes(n/g)=m
3 if puck is moving right then:
4 -u_{k}n=-u_{k}mg=ma_{x}
5 a_{x}=-u_{k}g
6 V_{xf}²=V_{xi}²+2a_{x(X_{f}}-x_{i)}
7 so now 0=V_{xi}²+2a_{x}x_{f} becomes
8 V_{xi}²-2u_{k}gx_{f}
9 u_{k}=((V_{xi}²)/(2gx_{f}))
10 u_{k}=(((22.3(m/s))²)/(2(9.80(m/(s²)))(249.3m))) =0.1017727
11 how's that?
 
plutoisacomet said:
Try this:

1 ∑F_{x}=-f_{k}=ma_{x}
2 ∑F_{y}=n-mg=0
note: n=mg becomes(n/g)=m
3 if puck is moving right then:
4 -u_{k}n=-u_{k}mg=ma_{x}
5 a_{x}=-u_{k}g
6 V_{xf}²=V_{xi}²+2a_{x(X_{f}}-x_{i)}
7 so now 0=V_{xi}²+2a_{x}x_{f} becomes
8 V_{xi}²-2u_{k}gx_{f}
9 u_{k}=((V_{xi}²)/(2gx_{f}))
10 u_{k}=(((22.3(m/s))²)/(2(9.80(m/(s²)))(249.3m))) =0.1017727
11 how's that?

Please don't give away full solutions. It defeats the object of helping students to learn for themselves.
 

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