Force given mass, velocity and fricton

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving a 2 kg box that slides across a floor after being briefly pushed. The problem includes elements of friction, acceleration, and distance traveled before coming to rest, with a coefficient of friction given as 0.20 and an initial speed of 4 m/s.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the forces acting on the box, including the normal force and friction. There is an exploration of how to calculate the net force and acceleration after the initial push. Questions arise regarding the effects of friction and the appropriate formulas to use for finding distance traveled.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided clarifications regarding the forces acting on the box and the implications of the initial push. There is an ongoing exploration of how to calculate the box's acceleration and the distance it travels before stopping, with various interpretations of the forces involved being discussed.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the need to consider the net force acting on the box and the role of friction in determining acceleration. There is also mention of the horizontal plane setup and the absence of other forces acting on the box after the initial push.

Leopard_
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Homework Statement


A 2 kg box is given a brief push so that it slides across the floor, but the applied force is only applied for an instant. The coefficient of friction is 0.20 and the initial speed of the box is 4 m/s.
Find acceleration of the box after the push
Find how far the box goes before coming to rest.

Homework Equations


Net force= mass*accel
Friction=u*normal

The Attempt at a Solution


I created an FBD, found the weight is 19.6N(9.8*2), and because it is being pushed horizontally, the Normal force is also 19.6 N. With the normal force I can find the force of friction. F=un, which means F=.2(19.6), and F=3.92 N. This leaves me missing the force I would need to calculate the Net f and find the acceleration. I could only get this far, as I do not know how to find a force with only the velocity, mass, and friction.
 
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Hello. Welcome to PF!
Leopard_ said:
Find acceleration of the box after the push
The push was only used to give the object an initial speed of 4 m/s. After that, the pushing force is zero.
 
Oh, I suppose it was easier then I thought! Thank you!
 
So, the box's acceleration of the box is slowing down by 9.81 m/s^2? Because it's initial speed is 4 m/s and there are not other forces acting on it?
 
vr0nvr0n said:
So, the box's acceleration of the box is slowing down by 9.81 m/s^2? Because it's initial speed is 4 m/s and there are not other forces acting on it?
No, the box is not decelerating at 9.8 m/s2. You need to find the net force acting on the box and use Newton's second law of motion to find the acceleration.
 
TSny said:
No, the box is not decelerating at 9.8 m/s2. You need to find the net force acting on the box and use Newton's second law of motion to find the acceleration.
Thank you. I got 1.96 m/s2 by dividing the Net Force by the mass. The Net Force, because this is all on a horizontal plane is the normal force multiplied by the coefficient of friction (3.92 N).

What formula would I need to use to find how far the box goes?

Thank you for your help.
 
vr0nvr0n said:
Thank you. I got 1.96 m/s2 by dividing the Net Force by the mass. The Net Force, because this is all on a horizontal plane is the normal force multiplied by the coefficient of friction (3.92 N).
Yes.

What formula would I need to use to find how far the box goes?
You can use the standard kinematic formulas for constant acceleration.
 

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