Friction of a stone sliding on a pond

AI Thread Summary
A user is working on a physics problem involving a stone sliding on a frozen pond, initially at 5 m/s and sliding 20 m before stopping. They initially miscalculated the deceleration as 8 m/s² but later corrected it to 0.625 m/s². The user sought clarification on the relationship between frictional force and resultant force, and how to calculate the coefficient of friction. After discussing kinematics and Newton's laws, they successfully derived the correct answer with assistance from other forum members. The user expressed gratitude for the help received in solving the problem.
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This isn't really homework because I'm not doing it for school. I'm on my holidays at the moment, and I'm trying to do a bit of Physics on my own. As you can imagine, I have not gotten far, and am stuck on this problem:

A stone slides in a straight line across a frozen pond. Given that the initial speed of the stone is 5m/s and that it slides 20m before coming to rest, calculate the coefficient of friction between the stone and the surface of the frozen pond.

The deceleration of the stone is (20*2)/5 = 8 m/s2.

How should I proceed next?

EDIT: I'm really confused. Is the resultant force = 8 X mass?

Is the resultant force = frictional force - forward force?

I know that frictional coefficient = Frictional force/contact force.

However, I've done the algebra and it comes out very messy.
 
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vf^2 = vi^2 + 2ad

a = -1.6

a = (mu)(g)

mu = .194
 
Use the relation

v^2 = v^2_{0} + 2a \Delta x

and the fact that the only force acting on the stone with a nonzero horizontal component is friction.

Newton's 2nd Law

\mu mg = ma
 
I don't really understand the variables that the two of you have used above. Is there a site that you can refer me to for this?

OK, I see my careless mistake. The deceleration is not 8 m/s2, that is the time taken for it to decelerate. So the deceleration is 5/8 = 0.625 m/s2, is it not?
 
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OK, I have the answer now guys. Thanks a lot.
 
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