Finding Force with T and V given

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a child pushing a block of wood across a table, with given mass, initial conditions, and friction coefficient. The objective is to determine the force exerted by the child on the block.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the relationship between velocity, acceleration, and forces acting on the block. There are attempts to clarify the definitions of net force and frictional force, as well as to derive the necessary equations to find the applied force.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on relevant formulas and calculations, while others have confirmed the correctness of certain calculations. There is an ongoing exploration of the relationships between the forces involved, but no explicit consensus has been reached regarding the final answer.

Contextual Notes

There is some confusion regarding the definitions of net force and the forces acting on the block, as well as the initial conditions provided in the problem statement.

mom2maxncoop
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Homework Statement


A child pushes a block of wood with a mass of 0.72kg across a smooth table. The block starts from a position of rest and after 2.0s it has a velocity of 1.6m/s [forward]. The coefficient of kinetic friction is 0.64.

I have already determined that
F_{net}= 7.06N
F_{f}= 4.52 N

Find the force with which the child actually pushes on the block of wood



Homework Equations


I have no clue what formula to use here in order to calculate this. Any sort of guidance be great! -Thanks



The Attempt at a Solution


I know that this has something to do with the velocity and it being 1.6m/s after 2.0 but I don't know even know where to being to find which formula to use!
 
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Hi mom2maxncoop! Welcome to PF! :smile:


You have the force of friction right! :smile:

Do you know the following formulas?
v = v0 + a t
Fresultant = m a

Btw, what you have named Fnet is not the net force, but the force of gravity on the block, also called weight.

From the first formula you can calculate the acceleration a.
From the second formula you can calculate the resultant force on the block.
And finally you can calculate the force that the child exerts.
 
Hi, I'm new here. I just thought I'd hijack mom2maxncoop's thread and revive it because I'm having a little difficulty with the same question.

Using the formula:

F resultant = m a
F resultant = (0.72kg) (0.8m/s^2)
F resultant = 0.576N

So, is this the net horizontal force exerted on the block of wood? If so, then I figured that the frictional force is:

F friction = u Fn
F friction = (0.64) (7.06N)
F friction = 4.52N

And so the applied force must be 4.52N + 0.58N = 5.1N

Correct? Thanks in advance!
 
Welcome to PF too, Seinfeld4! :smile:

Yes, you have it entirely correct.
Nice to see this thread had some use after all, since the OP never came back.
 
Thanks for the quick reply, and thanks for the welcome!

I have a feeling I'm going to be asking a lot more questions around here in the future. I feel a little bad though, because I'm just starting to learn about physics, so I'll be asking for help WAY more than I'll be dishing it out. Oh well, thanks again!
 
Don't worry about it. :)
The homework helpers don't help because of any expected return favor.
 
Last edited:

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