Friction, tension, and acceleration combination problem

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
4 replies · 7K views
jehan4141
Messages
90
Reaction score
0
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:
Physics news on Phys.org
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