Forces acting on the person carrying a bucket of water

In summary, the only force that is not acting on the person in this scenario is the gravitational force on the water. This is because the person is carrying the bucket on their head, so the force from the water is acting on the bucket, not the person directly. The force from the water bucket is a reaction to the force exerted by the person, but it is not directly acting on the person. Therefore, the answer is c.
  • #1
miyayeah
27
0

Homework Statement


A person of mass M is walking across the ground carrying a heavy bucket of water of mass m on top of their head. Which of the following forces is not acting on the person?

a) The gravitational force on the person Mg acting downward
b) The normal force from the ground acting upward
c) The gravitational force on the water mg acting downward
d) The force of static friction from the ground acting sideways

(The answer is c.)

Homework Equations


N/A

The Attempt at a Solution


I chose d because although friction force acting sideways is required to walk, I thought that walking forward would mean that static friction is acting forward and back, rather than sideways. I thought c was correct, so I am not sure why it is the answer. Could someone explain to me why c would not be considered to be one of the forces acting on the person?
 
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  • #2
There is a force acting on the person by the water bucket, but it's not gravity. What force is it?
 
  • #3
PhanthomJay said:
There is a force acting on the person by the water bucket, but it's not gravity. What force is it?
Is the force a part of action/reaction pair?
 
  • #4
miyayeah said:
Could someone explain to me why c would not be considered to be one of the forces acting on the person?
All a body in a mechanics question 'knows' is forces that act on it directly. In that sense, the person knows there is a force on her head, but not its cause. The gravitational force on the water acts on the water.
 
  • #5
miyayeah said:
Is the force a part of action/reaction pair?
Yes
 

What are the main forces acting on a person carrying a bucket of water?

The main forces acting on a person carrying a bucket of water are gravity, normal force, and friction. Gravity pulls the person and the bucket towards the center of the earth, while the normal force from the ground counters this force to keep the person and the bucket from falling. Friction acts in the opposite direction of motion and can make it more difficult to carry the bucket.

How does the weight of the bucket and water affect the forces on the person?

The weight of the bucket and water increases the overall force of gravity acting on the person. This means that the normal force from the ground must also increase to counteract the extra weight. As a result, the person may feel more pressure on their hands and arms while carrying the bucket.

What happens to the forces when the person starts walking with the bucket of water?

When the person starts walking, the forces acting on them and the bucket remain the same. However, the direction of the forces may change. The normal force from the ground now acts in the direction of motion, while friction acts in the opposite direction to slow down the person's movement. Additionally, the person may experience a slight force due to air resistance as they move through the air.

How does the position of the bucket affect the forces on the person?

The position of the bucket can affect the forces on the person in a few ways. If the bucket is held close to the body, the normal force from the ground will be more evenly distributed throughout the body, making it easier to carry. However, if the bucket is held far away from the body, the person may experience more torque and may need to use more force to keep the bucket from tipping over.

How does the surface on which the person is walking affect the forces on them?

The surface on which the person is walking can affect the forces in terms of friction. On a smooth surface, there will be less friction, making it easier to walk. On a rough or uneven surface, there may be more friction, making it more difficult to walk. Additionally, if the surface is angled or sloped, the normal force from the ground may also change, affecting the overall balance of forces on the person.

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