How do I find the acceleration in Newton's 3 Laws Problem?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving a 20.0 kg box being pushed with a force of 45.0 N at an angle of 25 degrees, with a coefficient of kinetic friction of 0.150. Participants are exploring how to find the acceleration of the box using Newton's laws of motion.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the forces acting on the box, including gravitational force, normal force, and frictional force. There are attempts to set up equations based on the sum of forces in both the x and y directions. Some participants question the correct interpretation of the angle in relation to the horizontal and vertical axes.

Discussion Status

There is ongoing exploration of the problem with various interpretations of the forces involved. Some participants have provided partial guidance on setting up equations, while others are questioning assumptions about the angle and the direction of forces. No consensus has been reached regarding the final approach to finding acceleration.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating through the constraints of the problem, including the requirement to avoid plugging in numbers until the final formula is established. There is also a focus on ensuring that the components of forces are correctly identified and calculated.

paytona
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Homework Statement


The 20.0 kg box is being pushed with a 45.0N Force acting at an angle of 25.0*. The coefficient of kinetic friction on this surface is 0.150. Find the acceleration

Homework Equations


F=ma
Fy=0
Fx=0

The Attempt at a Solution



So I attempted this so far

(sum)Fy=0
Py+Fn-Fg=0
Fn=Fg-Py
Fn=(20.0kgx9.81m/s^2)-45.0Nsin335*
Fn=215.217822N

I tried to go and do sum of all the forces on the x-axis but there's no point because we already have Ffk and Px... So now do I go ahead and put all of the forces in for Sum of F in
(sum)F=ma and solve for a?
as in would I do
Fx-Fg+Fn-Ffk=ma?
 
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Well, actually, as my physics professor always says, do not put in the numbers, if not when you've arrived to the last formula.

So...The box is moving on the x axis, so we know that the sum of forces on the y-axis is 0.

We have |Fp| = |N| +|Fy| With fp being the force exerted by gravity on the box, N the reaction that the table/ground is exerting on the box and Fy the y component of F.

We get that N = |Fp|-|Fy|

By definition we know that the friction force, let's call it Fat, is N*μ

|Fat| = [mg-F*sin(25)] * μ

In this case, checking the forces acting on y, is just needed to get the friction force right.

The block is moving on the x axis, so it has forces acting on it, and an acceleration in that case, the forces acting are Fx (x component of F), and the force of friction.

Fcos(25)-([mg-F*sin(25)]μ) = m*a

The acceleration a is equal to (Fcos(25)-([mg-Fsin(25)]μ))/ (m) [m/s^2]

At this point plug in all the numbers on the calculator and you get what you're searching for, with an human precision.
 
Bedeirnur said:
Well, actually, as my physics professor always says, do not put in the numbers, if not when you've arrived to the last formula.

So...The box is moving on the x axis, so we know that the sum of forces on the y-axis is 0.

We have |Fp| = |N| +|Fy| With fp being the force exerted by gravity on the box, N the reaction that the table/ground is exerting on the box and Fy the y component of F.

We get that N = |Fp|-|Fy|

By definition we know that the friction force, let's call it Fat, is N*μ

|Fat| = [mg-F*sin(25)] * μ

In this case, checking the forces acting on y, is just needed to get the friction force right.

The block is moving on the x axis, so it has forces acting on it, and an acceleration in that case, the forces acting are Fx (x component of F), and the force of friction.

Fcos(25)-([mg-F*sin(25)]μ) = m*a

The acceleration a is equal to (Fcos(25)-([mg-Fsin(25)]μ))/ (m) [m/s^2]

At this point plug in all the numbers on the calculator and you get what you're searching for, with an human precision.
Wouldn't the angle being used be -25* rather than positive??
 
Why should it be -25?

Isn't it like this

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t34.0-12/10726541_838742206166089_1666516233_n.jpg?oh=83223884bd9c63131013f875e990f880&oe=543720A0&__gda__=1412890032_b43d01452f1154c45db8a98041885387
 
Using your formula I got .568 m/s^2...
Does that sound right?
 
Well if you've got the solution for that we would know :p

Well, it can be anything, we don't know prior...We just know it isn't negative, as the friction force can block it, not drag it.
 
@Bedeirmuir: You must not give (almost) full solution.
Bedeirnur said:
Why should it be -25?

Isn't it like this

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t34.0-12/10726541_838742206166089_1666516233_n.jpg?oh=83223884bd9c63131013f875e990f880&oe=543720A0&__gda__=1412890032_b43d01452f1154c45db8a98041885387
In the problem text, the box is pushed at the angle of 25°. So it is like in the following picture.

ehild
 
paytona said:

Homework Statement


The 20.0 kg box is being pushed with a 45.0N Force acting at an angle of 25.0*. The coefficient of kinetic friction on this surface is 0.150. Find the acceleration

Is that angle enclosed with the horizontal or with the vertical?
paytona said:

Homework Equations


F=ma
Fy=0
Fx=0

The Attempt at a Solution



So I attempted this so far

(sum)Fy=0
Py+Fn-Fg=0
Fn=Fg-Py
Fn=(20.0kgx9.81m/s^2)-45.0Nsin335*
Fn=215.217822N

I see, that 25°was counted from the horizontal. You got Fn rigth.

paytona said:
I tried to go and do sum of all the forces on the x-axis but there's no point because we already have Ffk and Px... So now do I go ahead and put all of the forces in for Sum of F in
(sum)F=ma and solve for a?
The acceleration is a vector and its x component satisfies the equation ##ma_x=\sum{Fi_x}## So you need Px and Ffk. No sense to add x components with y components.

ehild
 

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