Friction, tension, and acceleration combination problem

AI Thread Summary
An 85-kg man attempts to tow a 109,000-kg airplane by pulling a cable at a 9-degree angle above the horizontal, with a static friction coefficient of 0.77. The normal force and weight calculations for both the man and the airplane are established, and the tension's x and y components are defined. The equations for net forces on both the plane and the man are set up, but the user encounters discrepancies in the y-component of acceleration when substituting tension. Clarifications are provided regarding the normal force's relationship to tension and friction, emphasizing that the normal force for the man includes the tension's vertical component. The discussion concludes with encouragement to proceed with the calculations based on these corrections.
jehan4141
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1. An 85-kg man plans to tow a 109000-kg
airplane along a runway by pulling horizontally on a cable attached
to it. Suppose that he instead attempts the feat by pulling the cable at
an angle of 9.00 above the horizontal. The coefficient of static friction
between his shoes and the runway is 0.77. What is the greatest acceleration
the man can give the airplane? Assume that the airplane is on
wheels that turn without any frictional resistance.

_________________________________________________________________________
MY ATTEMPT AT THE SOLUTION

Forces on Plane
Fn = Normal force
Weight = (mass of plane)(gravity) = 109000(9.8) = 1068200 N
Tx = x-component of tension in rope = Tcos(9)
Ty = y-component of tension in rope = Tsin(9)

Forces on Man
Fn = Normal force
Weight = (mass of man)(gravity) = 85(9.8) = 833 N
Fk = frictional force = (weight)(coefficient of friction) = (833)(0.77) = 641.41 N
Tx = x-component of tension in rope = -Tcos(9)
Ty = y-component of tension in rope = -Tsin(9)

____________________________________________________________________________

net equations for the plane
Fx = Tcos(9) = (Mass of plane)(x-component of acceleration)
Fy = Tsin(9) = (Mass of plane)(y-component of acceleartion)*********

net equations for the man
Fx = Fk - Tcos(9) = (Mass of man)(x-component of acceleration)
Fy = -Tsin(9) = (Mass of man)(y-component of acceleration)*********

From here, i think it is plug and chug to find tension. After I find tension, I can find both the x and y components of acceleration. I can then use Pythagorean theorem to find acceleration from the x and y components.My question is, have I written my net equations correctly? I think something is wrong because when I plug in T to the two starred equations above, I get two different answers for the y-component of acceleration...help? please?
 
Last edited:
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jehan4141 said:
1. An 85-kg man plans to tow a 109000-kg
airplane along a runway by pulling horizontally on a cable attached
to it. Suppose that he instead attempts the feat by pulling the cable at
an angle of 9.00 above the horizontal. The coefficient of static friction
between his shoes and the runway is 0.77. What is the greatest acceleration
the man can give the airplane? Assume that the airplane is on
wheels that turn without any frictional resistance.

_________________________________________________________________________



MY ATTEMPT AT THE SOLUTION

Forces on Plane
Fn = Normal force
Weight = (mass of plane)(gravity) = 109000(9.8) = 1068200 N
Tx = x-component of tension in rope = Tcos(9)
Ty = y-component of tension in rope = Tsin(9)

Forces on Man
Fn = Normal force
Weight = (mass of man)(gravity) = 85(9.8) = 833 N
Fk = frictional force = (weight)(coefficient of friction) = (833)(0.77) = 641.41 N
Tx = x-component of tension in rope = -Tcos(9)
Ty = y-component of tension in rope = -Tsin(9)

____________________________________________________________________________

net equations for the plane
Fx = Tcos(9) = (Mass of plane)(x-component of acceleration)
Fy = Tsin(9) = (Mass of plane)(y-component of acceleartion)*********

net equations for the man
Fx = Fk - Tcos(9) = (Mass of man)(x-component of acceleration)
Fy = -Tsin(9) = (Mass of man)(y-component of acceleration)*********

From here, i think it is plug and chug to find tension. After I find tension, I can find both the x and y components of acceleration. I can then use Pythagorean theorem to find acceleration from the x and y components.


My question is, have I written my net equations correctly? I think something is wrong because when I plug in T to the two starred equations above, I get two different answers for the y-component of acceleration...help? please?
If the plane and man do not leave the ground, is there any acceleration in the y direction?
And don't forget the Normal force in the y direction in your equations.

Note also that Fk is not weight times the friction coefficient, it is ? times the friction coefficient.
 
Fk is the normal force times the frictional coefficient...but I don't see how that changes anything...? :rolleyes::confused: Hmmm...Does the tension of rope contribute to the normal force? So that the normal force = mg + Tsin9? And thus Fk = 0.77[mg + Tsin9]
 
Last edited:
jehan4141 said:
Fk is the normal force times the frictional coefficient...but I don't see how that changes anything...? :rolleyes::confused: Hmmm...Does the tension of rope contribute to the normal force? So that the normal force = mg + Tsin9?
Yes, on the man.
And thus Fk = 0.77[mg + Tsin9]
Yes, very good. Now continue... (sorry for delayed response, I fell asleep:zzz:
 
AWESOME! THANK YOU SO MUCH, Phanthomjay...ur my physicss superman hahaha
 

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