How Do You Calculate Acceleration with Friction Involved?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the acceleration of a crate being pushed horizontally while considering the effects of friction. The crate has a mass of 219 kg and is subjected to a pushing force of 710 N, with a coefficient of friction of 0.20.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the calculation of friction and its role in determining the net force acting on the crate. There is an exploration of the correct application of Newton's second law (F=ma) and how to account for opposing forces.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on how to set up the problem, including the relationship between the applied force and friction. There is a recognition of the need to subtract the force of friction from the applied force to find the net force, although not all calculations have been explicitly completed.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of a homework assignment, which may limit the depth of exploration and the completeness of calculations. There is an emphasis on understanding the setup of forces rather than arriving at a final numerical answer.

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Homework Statement



A 219-kg crate is pushed horizontally with a force of 710 N. If the coefficient of friction is 0.20, calculate the acceleration of the crate.

m=219kg
force of friction= 219kg *.2 =43.8N?

Homework Equations




f=ma?

The Attempt at a Solution


I am not sure at all how to calculate the acceleration and what to use as the "F" to calcuate it
 
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friction is normal force*coefficient of friction

thus the force of friction would by 219*gravity*.2

The equation, F=ma, is right.

But friction always points in the opposite direction so it would set up like this:

Force(710) - friction = ma

then solve for a!

Hope this helps.
 
yeah that does help
since I didnt realize you had to subtract the 710 with the Ff

so 710-429.24=280.76N
280.76N/219=1.282
a=1.282m/s^2
 
yup, I didn't do the actually calculations, but it looks right.
An easy way to remember this is :

winner force - loser force = ma

And free-body diagramming it helps too
 

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