How Do You Calculate the Force Exerted by a Shopper on a Grocery Cart?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the force exerted by a shopper on a grocery cart being pushed at constant speed while overcoming friction. The problem involves energy considerations and the influence of angles in force application.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the need for the cart's mass to apply relevant equations and question the use of energy considerations in this context. There is also a discussion about the components of forces acting on the cart, particularly regarding the direction of gravity and the applied force.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants questioning the assumptions about the mass of the cart and the appropriateness of using energy considerations. Some have offered insights into the components of forces, but no consensus has been reached on the approach to take.

Contextual Notes

There is a noted absence of the cart's mass, which is central to the calculations being discussed. Participants are also navigating the implications of the angle at which the force is applied.

crysland
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A shopper pushes a grocery cart 20.0 m at constant speed on level ground, against a 35.0 N frictional force. He pushes in a direction 25.0º below the horizontal.

Find the force the shopper exerts, using energy considerations.

I got stuck on this because they don't give the mass of the cart.
 
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How would you use the mass of the cart? Suppose it were given, what equations would you apply?
(I find it strange that they ask you to use energy considerations though.)
 
I need to find the x-component of the weight so I need to know the mass.
 
crysland said:
I need to find the x-component of the weight so I need to know the mass.
What x component? Gravity acts vertically and this is a horizontal surface. It's the force applied by the pusher that is not horizontal.
 

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