Find acceleration only given distance of slop and angle of elevation.

AI Thread Summary
To find the acceleration of a puck sliding down a frictionless slope of 0.74 m at a 3.5-degree angle, it is unnecessary to know the mass of the puck. The net force acting on the puck can be analyzed using a free body diagram, where the gravitational force component along the slope determines the acceleration. The acceleration can be calculated using the formula a = g * sin(θ), where g is the acceleration due to gravity and θ is the angle of the slope. The time taken for the puck to descend can be derived from the kinematic equations once acceleration is known. The problem illustrates that mass cancels out in the calculations, confirming that the solution does not depend on it.
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Homework Statement



A puck is let go on the top of a frictionless slope. The slope is length .74 m and 3.5 degrees above the horizontal. What is the acceleration and how long does it take the puck to go down the slope?


Homework Equations



Fnet=ma
Fg=mg?


The Attempt at a Solution



If I was given m, I could just draw a free body diagram and find Fnet down the slope and then use m to find acceleration using Fnet=ma

Without mass, I am quite lost? Can it be done?
 
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You don't need a specific value for mass to draw a free body diagram--just call it "m". Hint: Perhaps the answer doesn't depend on m. :wink:
 
Although you're not given an explicit value for m,
can you attempt to solve the problem assuming a nonzero value for m?
If you can, you might see why an explicit value wasn't given.

[ doh... i hesistated too long [by rereading my post] o:)]
 
Thanks Doc Al :D
 

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