Dynamics/ Simple Harmonic motion help

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a dynamics problem involving a block on a rough incline connected to a spring. The original poster presents a scenario where the block, after being released, moves a certain distance down the incline before coming to rest, and seeks to find the coefficient of friction between the block and the incline.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to analyze the forces acting on the block and expresses confusion regarding the forces involved, particularly the spring force and its relation to the displacement. Some participants question the definitions of the normal force and the direction of the frictional force, while others suggest using the work-energy theorem as a potential approach to the problem.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, clarifying concepts, and exploring different approaches. There is a suggestion to apply the work-energy theorem, with some guidance on how friction plays a role in this context. However, there is no explicit consensus on the best method to proceed, and participants continue to seek further hints and clarification.

Contextual Notes

The original poster mentions uncertainty about the application of the work-energy theorem and the role of the spring constant in the problem. There is also a focus on understanding the forces involved and their respective directions, which may indicate a need for clearer definitions or assumptions regarding the setup.

SpIIIdD
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Hello everyone, I'm new here.
I'll just post my question- hopefully someone can answer.

A 2.00 kg block situated on a rough incline is connected to a spring of negligible mass having a spring constant of 100 n/m. The pulley is frictionless. The block is released from rest when the spring is un-stretched. The block moves 20 cm down th incline before coming to rest. Find the coefficient of friction between the block and incline.


m= 2 kg
d (delta x)= 20 cm (or 0.2 m)
k= 100 N/m
angle to the horizontal, theta= 37 deg.
coef of Fk= ?




a relevant equation, i think, for this problem is coef of Fk= Fk/Fn (normal force) but I'm not 100% sure about anything else.



So first i tried to draw the full body diagram of the forces of that are acting on the block.
The mg force points straight down, the kinetic frictional force should point diagonally to the left and the normal force points diagonally upward (parallel to the surface of contact where the block rests).
However, I'm not exactly sure what the force going diagonally to the right and downward- opposite to the force of kinetic friciton going opposite the direction at movement. I thought maybe that the force would be the force exerted by the string, Fx, but when i conceptually try to calculate it (with the formula Fx= -kx or kx ) i seem to obtain 0 (since the spring is being uncompressed and therefore returning to equilibrium, k should equal 0? (and multiply then by x- 0.2- and the answer is zero or have i got it wrong)?

I'm just generally confused as to how to continue with this ques and am wondering maybe there's something worng with my reasoning. I know that what I've done should be folowed up by solving a system of equations to get the final value but I'm not sure how to go about doing it.

Help?
 
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SpIIIdD said:
The mg force points straight down, the kinetic frictional force should point diagonally to the left
I hope you mean parallel to the incline.
and the normal force points diagonally upward (parallel to the surface of contact where the block rests).
You mean perpendicular to the surface of contact. That's what "normal" means.
However, I'm not exactly sure what the force going diagonally to the right and downward- opposite to the force of kinetic friciton going opposite the direction at movement.
What force would that be?

Anyway, I think it would be easier to tackle this problem by using the work-energy theorem or total (not just mechanical) energy conservation.
 
kuruman said:
I hope you mean parallel to the incline.

You mean perpendicular to the surface of contact. That's what "normal" means.

What force would that be?

Anyway, I think it would be easier to tackle this problem by using the work-energy theorem or total (not just mechanical) energy conservation.

ok, so i drew two different free- body diagrams- one for the block statically in position and another one for it in movement. I derived the formula to determine thr coef of kinetic friction: mewk= Fk/FN. I'm not exactly sure how to apply the work energy theorem to solve this problem since I'm not looking for work and there isn't the coef of kinetic friction in the formula (?). Particularly I'm not sure how to utilize the spring constant and the known displacement to solve the problem.
Can someone give me a further hint?
 
The work-energy theorem can be used for things other than just finding work. Don't forget that friction does work therefore μk appears in the work done by friction, so if you apply the work-energy theorem you will have an equation with μk in it.

What does the work-energy theorem say? What is an expression for it? How many forces do work and what are the corresponding expressions?
 
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