Coefficient of static friction problem

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving a wedge on an inclined plane, where forces including gravity, applied force, and friction are analyzed. The original poster presents a free body diagram and equations related to the motion of the wedge, specifically focusing on the coefficient of static friction and the resulting acceleration.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the setup of the free body diagram and the application of trigonometric functions to resolve forces. Questions arise regarding the direction of forces and the correct interpretation of angles. There is also a query about the sign of the calculated acceleration and its implications.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on correcting the use of sine and cosine in the equations. There is an ongoing exploration of the implications of the calculated acceleration, with differing opinions on its sign. The discussion is active, with participants engaging in clarifying concepts and assumptions.

Contextual Notes

Participants note potential discrepancies in the problem statement regarding angles and the relationship between the forces involved. There is an emphasis on ensuring that the free body diagram accurately reflects the physical situation described in the problem.

Seung Lee
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Homework Statement


I got this problem:
A wedge of mass m = 36.1 kg is held in place on a fixed plane that is inclined by an angle θ = 21.3° with respect to the horizontal. A force F = 302.3 N in the horizontal direction pushes on the wedge, as shown in Figure 4.25a. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the wedge and the plane is μk = 0.159. Assume that the coefficient of static friction is low enough that the net force will move the wedge.

http://semmedia.mhhe.com/physics/bau...dge/index.html
basically what's there except friction would be the other way around (since its accelerating up the slide.

Homework Equations


FBD
Sum of all forces = ma

The Attempt at a Solution


I did a free body diagram and got:
Summation of forces in y:
Normal force = mg sin theta + Appliedforce sin theta

Then for the forces in x:
mgcos + friction - Aplliedforce sin = 36.1a

I did solve for everything but strangely the acceleration gives me acceleration = 3.2

Can any1 help me if I am doing something wrong? Like getting cos and sin mixed?
 
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Check "Normal force = mg sin theta + Appliedforce sin theta"
mg is in a different direction than F, so how can it have the same coëfficiënt ?
also check the angle. Why do you state 21.3 and the text 22 degrees ?

What is so trange about acceleration 3.2 ?
You sure the picture and your exercise match ? Why do you want to calculate the acceleration if the exercise says the task is to draw an FBD ?

Oh, and: welcome to PF :)
 
Oh! Ok, I think fixing the cos and sin around helped me out
it was mg cost + Forceappliedsin = Normal force (sum of forces in y)
and mg sin + friction - Forceappliedcos = ma

I just have another question. The acceleration here would be negative right? My teacher had told me that itw as positive but I wasn't sure why but I'm also pretty sure it's actually negative.

Thank you for the welcoming too :D

P.S.:
Just a fast MC question I had a doubt with:
The Tornado is a carnival ride that consists of a hollow vertical cylinder that rotates rapidly about its vertical axis. As the Tornado rotates, the riders are pressed against the inside wall of the cylinder by the rotation, and the floor of the cylinder drops away. The force that points upward, preventing the riders from falling downward, is
tension, friction, gravity or normal force.

I'm pretty sure its friction due to the fact that normal would act perpendicular (to the center of the cylinder) and gravity would point downward and well tension would not exist.
Am i right?
 
Seung Lee said:
Oh! Ok, I think fixing the cos and sin around helped me out
it was mg cost + Forceappliedsin = Normal force (sum of forces in y)
and mg sin + friction - Forceappliedcos = ma

I just have another question. The acceleration here would be negative right? My teacher had told me that itw as positive but I wasn't sure why but I'm also pretty sure it's actually negative.

Thank you for the welcoming too :D

P.S.:
Just a fast MC question I had a doubt with:
The Tornado is a carnival ride that consists of a hollow vertical cylinder that rotates rapidly about its vertical axis. As the Tornado rotates, the riders are pressed against the inside wall of the cylinder by the rotation, and the floor of the cylinder drops away. The force that points upward, preventing the riders from falling downward, is
tension, friction, gravity or normal force.

I'm pretty sure its friction due to the fact that normal would act perpendicular (to the center of the cylinder) and gravity would point downward and well tension would not exist.
Am i right?
You are right about your last comment. Note that the normal force is acting as the centripetal force. And the friction force is acting upward.
 

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