Force of static friction in an FBD

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a donkey pulling a cart with two scenarios: one with zero acceleration and another where the cart and donkey are accelerating to the left. The focus is on determining the forces acting on the donkey and the cart, specifically the force exerted by the donkey on the cart and the force of static friction acting on the donkey.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss drawing free body diagrams (FBDs) to analyze the forces involved. There is an exploration of the relationship between static friction and the forces acting on the donkey and cart, with some questioning the direction of these forces.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, sharing their attempts and reasoning. Some have noted potential errors in sign conventions and are exploring the implications of static versus kinetic friction. There is a recognition of the complexity of the forces involved, particularly regarding the donkey's movement.

Contextual Notes

There is mention of coefficients of friction from a previous part of the problem, and participants are considering the implications of these values in the context of the current scenario. The discussion reflects uncertainty about the nature of static friction and its role in the donkey's ability to pull the cart without slipping.

noleguy33
Messages
25
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



The first part is a donkey is pulling a cart with zero acceleration and I've found the coefficient of kinetic friction in the bearings and the wheel, and the coefficient of static friction of the donkey in the ground. Part two I'm having problems with-

This time, a the donkey is pulling hard (almost starting to slip) on the same cart. The cart and donkey are accelerating at 0.24[m/s2] to the left without slippage.

Find-
a) The force by the donkey on the cart
b)The force of static friction by the surface on the donkey.

Homework Equations



Newton's 2nd law

The Attempt at a Solution



My first step is always to draw a FBD.

This is how I found Fd/c

Ffk - Fd/c = m(-a) /// set up that way because it's moving towards the negative x-axis

I used the same coefficient for from the first part of that problem, I got an answer of 2065[N].

I'm having an issue with the second part.

I drew a FBD for the donkey and came up with for the x-axis-

Ff(static) - Fc/d = m(-a) and I believe that gets me the right answer(or at least a common answer among classmates).

I just don't know why. Given this, the Ff(static) would be larger than Fc/d, so how exactly is the donkey moving? Thanks!

My only thought is that the Ffs is a force of the Earth on the donkey?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
noleguy33 said:

Homework Statement



The first part is a donkey is pulling a cart with zero acceleration and I've found the coefficient of kinetic friction in the bearings and the wheel, and the coefficient of static friction of the donkey in the ground. Part two I'm having problems with-

This time, a the donkey is pulling hard (almost starting to slip) on the same cart. The cart and donkey are accelerating at 0.24[m/s2] to the left without slippage.

Find-
a) The force by the donkey on the cart
b)The force of static friction by the surface on the donkey.

Homework Equations



Newton's 2nd law

The Attempt at a Solution



My first step is always to draw a FBD.

first part of that problem, I got an answer of 2065[N].

I'm having an issue with the second part.

I drew a FBD for the donkey and came up with for the x-axis-

Ff(static) - Fc/d = m(-a) and I believe that gets me the right answer(or at least a common answer among classmates).
You have a signage error here.
I just don't know why. Given this, the Ff(static) would be larger than Fc/d, so how exactly is the donkey moving? Thanks!

My only thought is that the Ffs is a force of the Earth on the donkey?
Yes , correct. When drawing FBD's, you always look at the forces acting on the object you have isolated. The donkey pushes back on the ground, so the ground friction pushes forward on the donkey. That is what makes it move.
 
So it would be...

-Ff(static) + Fc/d = m * -a

I just always thought the force of friction goes against movement... is that true only for kinetic(i.e. movement) friction?
 
noleguy33 said:
So it would be...

-Ff(static) + Fc/d = m * -a
yes, correct
I just always thought the force of friction goes against movement... is that true only for kinetic(i.e. movement) friction?
The force of friction acts against the relative movement (or impending movement) between the 2 surfaces. It applies to both static and kinetic friction, they can act either way depending on the relative movement between the 2 surfaces.
For the donkey, as in walking, where static friction applies, you must push back on the ground, so there is a tendency for your foot to slip backwards, so the friction force acts forward, opposite to the direction of the pending slip. In kinetic friction, a crate on a truck bed might start slipping backwards with respect to the truck bed as the truck accelerates forwards, so the kinetic friction acts forward on the crate, causing it to accelerate forward with respect to the ground.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Replies
18
Views
3K
Replies
6
Views
3K
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 42 ·
2
Replies
42
Views
4K
Replies
15
Views
2K
Replies
61
Views
4K
Replies
24
Views
3K