Designing a Ramp for Exercise Equipment Delivery

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on designing a delivery ramp for exercise equipment crates, emphasizing the calculation of the spring's force constant needed to prevent rebound after the crates come to rest. The initial energy of the system includes the gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy of the crates, while the final energy accounts for the spring's potential energy and energy lost to friction. Two key equations are established: one relating initial and final energy and another describing the forces acting on the crate at rest. The participant expresses uncertainty about the inclusion of mass in the calculations and considers substituting variables to simplify the equations. Ultimately, they identify a mistake in their approach and express gratitude for the clarification.
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You are designing a delivery ramp for crates containing exercise equipment. The crates weighing F_1 will move at a speed of v at the top of a ramp that slopes downward at an angle \phi. The ramp exerts a kinetic friction force of F_2 on each crate, and the maximum static friction force also has this value. Each crate will compress a spring at the bottom of the ramp and will come to rest after traveling a total distance of L along the ramp. Once stopped, a crate must not rebound back up the ramp.

Calculate the force constant of the spring that will be needed in order to meet the design criteria.

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/1397/asdfbjl.png

This is what I've tried so far:
initial energy: (Lsin\phi)F_1+1/2*mv^2
final energy: 1/2*kx^2
lost energy: F_2L

initial= final + lost
(Lsin\phi)F_1+1/2*mv^2 = 1/2*kx^2 + F_2L (we shall call this equation 1)

From the free body diagram of the crate resting on the spring at the bottom of the ramp:
kx=F_1sin\phi+F_2 (we shall call this equation 2)

I'm not quite sure all of the above is correct, but if so.. I don't think there's supposed to be the variable of m in there. Should I substitute F_1/g ?
Then, am I supposed to solve for x in equation 2 then plug that into equation 1?
 
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Looks like a plan.

F1/g looks workable.

2 equations, 2 unknowns ...
 


Edit: I found what I was doing wrong. Thanks.
 
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