Force Needed to Push 30 Tonne Rubbish in Steel Container

  • Level: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter dpac
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Force Push
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Start your own thread to ask a follow-up.
1 reply · 2K views
dpac
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Hello members,

Can anyone help me with the following.

How much force is required to push 30 tonne of rubbish from a enclosed smooth steel container, sitting level with the ground?

Rubbish contents (timber, plastic, dirt, food, etc)

I was under the impression that the coefficient of friction of say timber on steel is 0.4-0.6. Therefore to push 30t of this material should take roughly 150kn.

Thanks for any help.

Dave
 
Physics news on Phys.org
That is certainly a reasonable estimate, if you push perfectly horizontal, if nothing else is blocking (sides of the container, uneven surface, rusted together, ...), everything is dry, the surface you want the rubbish to be afterwards is also steel (or similar to it) and no other issues occur.