Finding the Value of the Rolling Friction Force

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around determining the value of the rolling friction force in a scenario involving a cart moving up and down a ramp. The original poster presents two net force values corresponding to different directions of motion and attempts to relate these to the frictional force.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the relationship between net forces and friction, questioning the relevance of mass and the direction of forces. The original poster attempts to derive the frictional force using elimination and expresses uncertainty about the validity of their approach.

Discussion Status

Some participants provide guidance on the relationships between forces, with one suggesting that the mass is not necessary for the calculations. There is a focus on clarifying the roles of gravity and friction in the context of net force, and participants are exploring whether the calculated friction value is reasonable.

Contextual Notes

Participants discuss the implications of using average net force and question the nature of rolling resistance. There is an assumption that all forces are acting down the slope to simplify the analysis.

realslow
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Homework Statement


What is the value of the rolling friction force given 1)Fnet=0.24N (deceleration up the ramp) and 2)Fnet=0.21N (acceleration down the ramp)?


Homework Equations


Fnet = Fgravity - Ffriction (?)


The Attempt at a Solution


Somehow I need to combine these values to find the frictional force...
So I tried this:
0.24 = 5.0 - Ffric
0.21 = 5.0 - (-Ffric)
elimination
0.03 = -2Ffric
Ffric = 0.015 (disregarding the negative?)
Does this work?
 
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Are you given the mass of the object in the question? It's not relevant, but you've used a value for it.
 
Last edited:
Yes, sorry, the mass was 0.510 kg.
 
Up Ramp:
Fa = Fgravity + Ffriction
Fgravity = Fa - Ffriction

Down Ramp:
Fb = Fgravity - Ffriction
Fgravity = Fb + Ffriction

Fgravity is equal in both instances so:
Fa - Ffriction = Fb + Ffriction
Fa - Fb = Ffriction + Ffriction
Fa - Fb = 2Ffriction
Ffriction = (Fa - Fb) / 2

Based on that, I'd say I agree with your answer of 0.015.

You don't need the mass of the object for this.
 
Yay! Thank you :)
I just wanted to clarify, gravity + friction make up the net force for the cart going up the ramp because gravity and friction are working in the same direction?
 
realslow said:
Yay! Thank you :)
I just wanted to clarify, gravity + friction make up the net force for the cart going up the ramp because gravity and friction are working in the same direction?

Correct. Both are acting against the direction of motion.
 
Okay! :D
Sorry, I just had one question relating to this one, if you could help me again.
I need to state whether my answer is reasonable.
I said it is reasonable because it is 6.8% of the average net force.. and at first I was thinking 0.068 was also the coefficient of friction, but then I calculated friction divided by average net force. It isn't the coefficient.. is it?
I'm also not sure if I was correct in using the average net force.
 
realslow said:
Okay! :D
Sorry, I just had one question relating to this one, if you could help me again.
I need to state whether my answer is reasonable.
I said it is reasonable because it is 6.8% of the average net force.. and at first I was thinking 0.068 was also the coefficient of friction, but then I calculated friction divided by average net force. It isn't the coefficient.. is it?
I'm also not sure if I was correct in using the average net force.

For this question, assume everything is acting down the slope to avoid any nasty angles in there.

So everything lines up and cancels out nicely.

Yes, you used it correctly.

Is your answer reasonable? Well do you expect the rolling resistance to be high or low?
 
Sorry, if you could clarify what you mean when you say, "So everything lines up and cancels out nicely."

I'm not too sure.. I don't think the rolling resistance would be high though.
 
  • #10
realslow said:
Sorry, if you could clarify what you mean when you say, "So everything lines up and cancels out nicely."

It's all acting down the slope. Assume net, gravity and friction all refer specifically to those forces acting down the ramp.
I'm not too sure.. I don't think the rolling resistance would be high though.

Correct, is your value high?
 
  • #11
Oh, okay!

Nope, it isn't high.

Thank you again for your troubles :)
 

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