- #1
Andy Salter
- 17
- 1
Homework Statement
A truck with a heavy load has a total mass of 7500 kg. It is climbing a 15 degree incline at a steady 15 m/s when, unfortunately, the poorly secured load falls off! Immediately after losing the load, the truck begins to accelerate at 1.5 m/s 2 . What was the mass of the load? Ignore rolling friction.
Homework Equations
ΣF = Fg + n + F1 = ma , where n is the normal force and F1 is the parallel force
The Attempt at a Solution
Before the load falls off we know a = 0 therefore
ΣF = Fg + n + F1 = 0
Fg before fall = 9.81 m/s^2 * 7500 kg = 73575 N
Fgx before fall = -73575*Sin(15) = -19042
Because ΣFx = 0 before fall, Fgx = -F1x
=> F1x = 19042 N
After fall we have:
Fx = 19042 + Fgx = FgSin(15) = m*1.5
Fy = 0
I'm not sure where I need to go from here. I need to find m so I can find the difference, but I can't do this without either the magnitude of Fg or Fgx. Not sure how I can find these...